Brighton Beach, Coney Island residents call out boardwalk safety issues
Volunteers gathered on the boardwalk Thursday, placing orange flags in areas they believe pose safety hazards.
A group of Brighton Beach residents is calling on New York City's Parks Department to address what they describe as dangerous conditions along the neighborhood's aging boardwalk. They say deteriorating planks, exposed screws and holes in the structure are putting visitors at risk of injury.
Volunteers gathered on the boardwalk Thursday, placing orange flags in areas they believe pose safety hazards. Organizers said the flags were meant to draw attention to damaged sections that they say have gone unrepaired for too long.
Residents pointed to broken wooden planks, missing or exposed screws and gaps in the boardwalk as examples of ongoing maintenance issues. While they acknowledged that some repairs have been made, they argued that significant safety concerns remain.
One organizer said the effort was sparked in part by injuries suffered by local residents, including her husband, who was hurt on the boardwalk back in June.
Among those speaking out was Svetlana, a frequent visitor to the boardwalk who said she was previously injured after a fall. Speaking in Russian, she said the waterfront promenade is one of her favorite places in the neighborhood and that she simply wants to be able to walk there safely.
"Every orange flag marks a danger that should already be gone," said organizer Michael Oispa, who says he had family members injured on the boardwalk. "What we're seeing is not an isolated maintenance problem. It's a pattern of systemic neglect. After today, no one can say they do not know."
Organizers are also urging the Parks Department to limit or end the use of maintenance vehicles on the boardwalk. They claim the vehicles contribute to the deterioration of the wooden structure.
"They are driving by and you can see the boards jumping," Oispa said. "This has to stop."
The calls for repairs come as the city plans a major reconstruction of the iconic boardwalk. A billion-dollar project to rebuild sections of the Riegelmann Boardwalk is expected to move forward in the coming years as part of the City's Economic Development Corporation.
However, residents say it's hard to look forward to a project with minimal details.
"Release the renderings, let people see the plan," said Assembly Member Alec Brook-Krasny, speaking at the event.
NYC Parks tells News 12 that the EDC project remains many years away, and that workers make repairs on a five-day basis along the boardwalk from April to November to make sure it is safe for visitors.
Still, residents want to see more repairs before that project is enacted.
"We need more repairs, we need more frequent repairs, and we need leadership," Oispa said.
