Last Monday, the MAS launched ImagineConey, a new initiative to develop new ideas for Coney Island’s future to restore the area to its place as a great entertainment and amusement destination once again - the “world’s playground’. On that day, we brought together a world-class team of designers, engineers, producers and economists at Brooklyn Borough Hall to listen to presentations from key Coney Island stakeholders. (click here to see photographs from the day and here to watch a broadcast about it on NY1).

The team will return for a two-day “charrette” – an intense design workshop – on November 13 and November 14 and present their initial ideas to the public on November 17.

But first, it’s time for New Yorkers and Coney Island fans everywhere to weigh in. We need your ideas for Coney Island’s future: for events and activities, for new amusement rides, for the design of new structures and even for interim activities that could happen in the summer of 2009.

You can contribute in one of two ways. First, attend one of two evening workshops:
Monday, November 10, at the Coney Island Gospel Assembly, 2828 Neptune Avenue, Brooklyn

Wednesday, November 12, at the Brooklyn Public Library Central Branch, 10 Grand Army Plaza, Brooklyn

Monday, November 17 – Final Presentation. Venue tbc.

Second, visit our new website www.imagineconey.com which will go live this afternoon. You can submit ideas online as text (less than 150 words) or as graphics which can be emailed to us at imagineconey@mas.org.

The ideas will be displayed online at ImagineConey and also at an exhibit at the MAS that will open in January 2009. The deadline for submission is December 15 and ideas submitted before November 12 will also be presented to the charrette team for potential inclusion in their presentation on November 17. So start “Imagining Coney” – and please share this news with all your friends and colleagues you think might be interested!