The Parachute Jump in Coney Island is a Brooklyn icon. At 262 feet tall, the metal structure is reminiscent of the Eiffel tower, visible throughout the neighboring area. It was originally built for the 1939 World's Fair in Queens, NY, then disassembled and moved to Steeplechase Park in Coney Island in 1941. The ride featured real working parachutes. Riders were placed in harnesses and the parachutes were guided down by cables. The design was based on Russian military parachute training towers. After various threats of demolition, it is now recognized as a city landmark and in 1989 was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Currently, a rehabilitation is underway. This photo certainly does not make the area very appealing, but for me it is captures my image of Coney Island as a gray, dreary place in continuous decline. Click here for more photos. The Mermaid Parade was one of the few really nice visual experiences I have had there. I always try to love Coney Island, but it is hard not to see it in it's glorious past (see the original Luna Park at night). There is always talk of development and renaissance. Let's hope soon ...
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Parachute Jump
The Parachute Jump in Coney Island is a Brooklyn icon. At 262 feet tall, the metal structure is reminiscent of the Eiffel tower, visible throughout the neighboring area. It was originally built for the 1939 World's Fair in Queens, NY, then disassembled and moved to Steeplechase Park in Coney Island in 1941. The ride featured real working parachutes. Riders were placed in harnesses and the parachutes were guided down by cables. The design was based on Russian military parachute training towers. After various threats of demolition, it is now recognized as a city landmark and in 1989 was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Currently, a rehabilitation is underway. This photo certainly does not make the area very appealing, but for me it is captures my image of Coney Island as a gray, dreary place in continuous decline. Click here for more photos. The Mermaid Parade was one of the few really nice visual experiences I have had there. I always try to love Coney Island, but it is hard not to see it in it's glorious past (see the original Luna Park at night). There is always talk of development and renaissance. Let's hope soon ...
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4 comments:
il a reouvert ? belle photo.
Je sais pas si j'oserais y faire un tour!!!
un petit tour a coney island avec mon site prefere sur new york
Forgotten NYC
The ride has been closed since the 1960s - forgot to mention that in the posting. There has been some recent talk of getting in operation.
Look at those sunglasses, will ya?
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