BY ROSE ADAMS
The Coney Island amusement
park will postpone its
opening because of the coronavirus
outbreak, offi cials announced.
“In response to the evolving
circumstances around
COVID-19 and in an effort to
slow the spread of the virus,
we at Luna Park in Coney Island
have made the decision to
postpone our opening day until
further notice,” said representatives
at Central Amusement
International, Inc., a corporation
that operates Luna Park,
the Scream Zone, the Cyclone,
and many surrounding shops.
Deno’s Wonder Wheel
Amusement Park will also delay
its April 4 opening — dealing
a tough blow to its owners,
who were planning to celebrate
the Wonder Wheel’s 100th anniversary.
“We saw the writing on the
wall a couple of weeks ago,”
said Dennis Vourderis, who
owns and operates the wheel
and its adjacent amusement
park with his brother, Steve.
“Of course, we have to take into
consideration what’s going on
in the world. It’s not about us
right now.”
The indefi nite closure of the
amusement district will inevitably
hurt the seasonal businesses
in the area that rely on
the park’s attractions for revenue,
said one local business
advocate.
“The consequences of not
being able to make the amount
of money that stores in Coney
Island make from April onward
is going to be detrimental
to the community,” said
Alexandra Silversmith, executive
New York City
Schools
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COURIER LIFE,18 MARCH 27-APRIL 2, 2020
director of the Alliance for
Coney Island.
The postponement comes as
many Coney Island businesses
are already struggling to survive
due to the area’s seasonal
economy and rising rents. The
People’s Playground has double
the average city vacancy
rate, with nearly 16-percent of
storefronts sitting empty, according
to a city report.
To make matters worse, the
MTA announced last month
that it would suspend F train
service between Church and
Stillwell Avenues on most
weekends this summer and
through the end of 2020, and
will replace the trains with
free shuttle bus service. Business
leaders slammed the decision,
claiming that the suspension
would lessen ridership
and weaken the local economy.
Coney Island’s biggest tourist destination will remain closed until the
virus subsides. Photo by Todd Maisel
Transit offi cials are postponing
the start of construction
along the F line, which
was slated to begin on March
20, but will reevaluate the start
date once the threat of the virus
has passed, the MTA announced.
However, Luna Park and
Deno’s have no choice but to
postpone the start of the season,
since the city ordered on
March 15 that all entertainment
venues close. On March
20, Gov. Andrew Cuomo implemented
a state-wide “stay at
home” order, which requires
all non-essential businesses to
shutter.
Still, Vourderis said he that
the Wonder Wheel’s 100th anniversary
celebration is still
on for May 23 should conditions
improve. And now, the
party will celebrate not only
the wheel’s centennial, but
also the end of the coronavirus
threat.
“We want to open up with
a celebration, not under these
circumstances,” he said.
“We’re thinking positively and
looking forward to a post-pandemic
party.”
Unamused
Coney Island amusement park to delay
its opening because of coronovirus
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