New-York tribune., 1911-11-26
FOR CONEY ISLAND WALK
Steers Hopes to Push Project
Through for Next Summer.

Borough President Alfred Z. Steers has
revived the scheme Of building a prom
enade along the front OF Coney Island ana
intends 20 ask the Board Of Estimate and
Apportionment TO have its engineers take
M the matter and report on the prac-
ticability and expense Of the undertaking.
The idea OF making Coney Island over into
a second Atlantic city has held sway over
the minds OF many property owners OF the
section for several years.
In sense the proposed improvement at
the island is only part Of larger scheme
that contemplates the Improvement or the
whole waterfront from Manhattan Beach
about to Goth street. The work OF I'M
movement from the Fort Hamilton Reser-
walton to the neighborhood OF 66th street
has been largely carried out In the de-
yelopment of Dyker Beach Park ana the
Rav Ridge Parkway. The parkway In
cludes the Shore Drive. which Is said to
he one Of the finest in the country.
Another scheme that is still in the clouds
is the development of COney Island creek
into a canal which will run along the
hack of the island from Gravesend Bay
to Sheepshead Bay. The rapid filling m
which has been going on for years may
make the proposed canal impossible IN a
fcv wears more. This may be Just as well.
for the advance of residential sections
MICH, he checked by the presence OF ,he
canal.
\ plan that seems 10 have a strong hold
on the property owners and which II car
ried out. can be depended upon to produce
great results for good. is tile formation OF
another waterfront park ON the site OF
the Drcamland fire. This also Will In
crease the value Of property. while wip-
ing out many cheap resorts. one thing Is
certain and must be accepted. the shanty
section will not go entirely until all the
land i'm the neighborhooI of the island is
fitted FOR higher uses by the complete
elimination OF the swampS.
How far the elimination of the swamps
has been pushed can only be appreciated by
those who have been familiar with the por-
ton Of the borough lying between Prospect
PARK and the island Tor the last two decades.
To such ,he transformation has been stu
pendous Still, the possibilities OF making
( that portion OF the city healthy and beauti-
( ful are only just beginning TO be realized
Miles Of farm land are growing up into
/ inhabited districts so quickly that most OF
/ the leaders I'm the work Of civic bettermen,
have had no time to become intimately ac-
ouainted with the conditions. BY the time
they arc thoroughly aroused 10 action the
opportunlties for securing parks and breath
ing spaces at low cost will have largely
passed.
The proposed water front walk for tine
island is one of the improvements that may
come. as r. large number Of people have
been in favor Of it for several years. Its
cost may be anywhere from $4,000 20
$780, 900 The plan is to build a broad path
6fty or sixty feet wide, from Brighton
Beach to Sea Gate tEree hundred feet or 80
from high water mark. At flood tide, 1t Is
proposed. the walk will De about ten feet
above the sea. The path Is to be- easily ac-
cessible. as the city viii be asked 10 cut
through all the streets and connect them
with H. It's length viii be about two and a
quarter miles.
Mr.. steers believes that the city could
make upward Of $4,000 year from rent
ing wheel chair privileges ON the walk. as
Is done at Atlantic city. He has been in
formed that the uig business men OF the
section are so convinced OF the improvement
I'm the class Of patronage the walk would
hiring them that they are ready 10 con-
tribute free Of charge the easements re-
auired and to spenl thousands upon raising
the standards OF their establishments The
Borough President believes that the walk
could be built Of wood. though steel and
concrete would no doubt be better. though
more expensive. and that IT could he COM
plcted by next summer, at least In large
part The walk would not interfere with
bathing.