BP MARKOWITZ LIGHTS HISTORIC CONEY ISLAND PARACHUTE JUMP

On Friday, July 7, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz opened a new chapter in the colorful history of a Brooklyn icon by flipping the switch to illuminate the Parachute Jump on the legendary Coney Island boardwalk. After standing sentinel over “America’s Favorite Playground” for more than sixties years, Coney Island’s “beacon of the boardwalk” twinkled to life when 17 lamps and 150 lighting fixtures featuring 450 LEDs all turned on for the first time.

“I am overjoyed to light the Coney Island Parachute Jump as it returns as Brooklyn’s Eiffel Tower,” said Borough President Markowitz. “Thanks to the hard work and dedication of so many talented people, what was once merely a dream will soon be a shining symbol of this borough’s immense pride and dazzling future and of Coney Island’s legendary freakishness and pizzazz. From our beaches and the boardwalk to our restaurants and nightlife, the best days for Coney Island and Brooklyn are right in front of us.”

The 277-foot-tall tower’s sparkling lights, designed by artist Leni Schwendinger, shone for all to see for the first time, from Staten Island and New Jersey to Downtown Brooklyn and beyond. Although the last parachute dropped long before the Parachute Jump was declared a city landmark in 1988, Borough President Markowitz had the bright idea to transform it into a symbol of the revitalization of Coney Island as a year-round round-the-clock live-work community that attracts families and visitors from across America. Through a partnership with the Borough President’s Office, the Mayor’s office, the Department of Parks and Recreation, the City Council, the city’s Economic Development Corporation, artist Leni Schwendinger, and engineering firm STV, the project took two years from inception to completion.

“Preserving Coney Island’s world-renowned character is an important part of our plan to help spur the revival of one of the City’s most historic neighborhoods, and what better way to do that than to restore the Parachute Jump, one of Coney Island’s most recognizable landmarks,” said Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg. “By capitalizing on the area’s rich history and unique assets and setting the stage for new development, we will strengthen Coney Island’s residential community and enhance it as a year-round destination for travelers from all over the world.”

The renovation of the boardwalk landmark is the latest of many new developments in Coney Island. Within the last five years, the area has witnessed the construction of a new minor-league baseball park for the Brooklyn Cyclones and a $240 million makeover of the Stillwell Avenue subway terminal. This year, Mayor Bloomberg committed $83.2 million for neighborhood improvements, including parking, a new community center, and renovations to Mermaid and Surf Avenues.

"For generations, Coney Island's Parachute Jump has stood as a beacon of Brooklyn. Now, it will be illuminated so everyone far and wide can admire its beauty and engineering," said Department of Parks and Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe. "It has been a pleasure to work with Borough President Markowitz, EDC, Leni Schwendinger, and STV to make this vision a reality. This improvement heralds our commitment to transforming Coney Island into a must-visit destination."

The lighting of the Parachute Jump, which was originally built in 1939 as an exhibit in the World’s Fair, is emblematic of larger changes taking place at “America’s Favorite Playground.”

“The lighting of the Parachute Jump, a longtime icon of Coney Island, is a terrific symbol of the revitalization underway in the area,” said Coney Island Development Corporation Chair and Interim EDC President Joshua Sirefman. “Bringing the Parachute Jump back to life is an important milestone of our plan to make Coney Island a vibrant, year-round entertainment destination with a healthy residential base.”

During the summer months the tower will be lit in one of six lighting schemes that reflect the seasons, holidays, and even the lunar cycles. The Parachute Jump will be illuminated from dusk until midnight May through October, and dusk until 11 p.m. other times.

“As a lighting designer and artist this towering canvas of steel set against the night sky was a thrilling challenge,” said Schwendinger. “This was an opportunity to meld 21st century lighting with a 20th century industrial structure.  The Parachute Jump is revived as a signature icon for Coney Island’s evening and nighttime hours.”

On July 7, the electrifying evening featured a preview of all six lighting sequences, followed by the weekly Coney Island Friday night fireworks on the beach, sponsored by Astroland and Deno’s Wonder Wheel Park.