Coney Island has
always been a location for people to relax and amuse themselves.
At one point, there was a three-mile boardwalk lined with amusement
rides, game booths and concession stands. Now a football field
length of that entertainment still exists. The beaches, once
lined with a dominantly white immigrant community, are now enjoyed
by Hispanic and Afro-Americans. In doing this project, I was
interested in seeing how people amuse themselves and exist within
the new landscape of Coney Island. As the amusement park dwindled
to a fraction of its functioning size over the past twenty years,
people continued to come to the area to lay on the beach, swim
in the ocean, fish and crab off the pier. Coney Island is as
vibrant as ever, yet different people are using the land. This
documentary photo-essay displays how the new immigrant population
is making use of the beach and boardwalk and keeping the magical
and energetic atmosphere of Coney Island alive.
