Brooklyn · Kings County
Coney Island Beach and Boardwalk
Beach / Boardwalk
- Location
- Surf Avenue to the Atlantic Ocean, West 37th Street to Corbin Place, Coney Island
- Size
- 47.00 acres
- Hours
- Beach: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM (lifeguards); Boardwalk open 24 hours
- Type
- Beach / Boardwalk
Coney Island Beach and Boardwalk is a 47-acre public beach and wooden boardwalk stretching 2.7 miles along the Atlantic Ocean in the Coney Island, Brighton Beach, and Manhattan Beach neighborhoods of southern Brooklyn. The beach is the most accessible ocean beach for residents of New York City and draws millions of visitors each summer.
Coney Island's history as an amusement destination stretches back to the 1860s, when the first hotels and bathing pavilions were built along the shore. By the early 20th century, Coney Island was the most famous amusement resort in the world, with legendary parks like Dreamland, Luna Park, and Steeplechase attracting millions of visitors annually.
The Riegelmann Boardwalk, named for Brooklyn Borough President Edward Riegelmann, was completed in 1923 and stretches from West 37th Street to Brighton 15th Street. The boardwalk has been a defining feature of the Coney Island experience for a century, providing an elevated promenade above the sand where visitors stroll, eat, and people-watch.
The beach itself is one of the largest urban public beaches in the United States, with over 2.5 miles of shoreline maintained by NYC Parks. Lifeguards are on duty during the summer swimming season, and the beach provides free ocean access to the millions of New Yorkers who cannot afford private beach clubs or weekend getaways.
Coney Island's amusement area, anchored by the landmark Cyclone roller coaster (1927), the Wonder Wheel (1920), and the modern Luna Park, continues to draw visitors alongside newer attractions. Nathan's Famous hot dog stand, which has operated at the corner of Surf and Stillwell since 1916, hosts the annual July 4th hot dog eating contest.
Coney Island Beach and Boardwalk represent something essential about New York City: the democratic principle that everyone, regardless of income, deserves access to the ocean, the sand, and the simple pleasure of a summer day at the beach. For over 150 years, Coney Island has been the place where New York comes to play.