With Coney Island in the news this week because of theatrics at the public presentation of the city’s proposed zoning changes and plans, we thought we’d turn our attention again to the subject of the disgraceful condition of the boardwalk itself. We’ve focused on it from time to time over the last two years, and it is more deteriorated than ever. The image above is actually from Brighton Beach, where the boardwalk is in relatively pristine shape compared to the ratty condition of more heavily used parts in Coney Island. Yet, clearly these people-eating craters can appear anywhere.

The city seems to have concluded that it’s cheaper to pay out lawsuit settlements to those injured from falling on (and even through) the rotting boards than to replace the most deteriorated sections. The worst damage is in the heart of the Coney amusement district, from Astroland through Stillwell Avenue, although there are sagging spots and cave ins scattered about. The estimated cost of replacing a half-block stretch of boards is $500,000 and there was an estimate that it would cost $200 million to replace the full length of the boardwalk (which is not necessary). A good place to start would be the several blocks that are most heavily used and that threaten people with injury every day during the summer months. Sadly, no such replacement has been funded.