Steeplechase Plaza, Coney Island
Brooklyn, NY
Created by George C. Tilyou, Steeplechase Park was a popular amusement park from 1895 until 1964. The iconic open-frame steel structure of the Parachute Jump (constructed in 1939 for the World’s Fair; rebuilt at Steeplechase in 1940) was the only remaining feature of the park. In 1989, the Parachute Jump was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and designated an individual NYC landmark.
Li · Saltzman Architects provided preservation consulting services for a multi-disciplinary team of architects, planners, engineers, and designers for the $25 million Steeplechase Plaza project sponsored by the NYC Economic Development Corporation. The objective was to create a new park incorporating historic features of Coney Island, i.e., the Parachute Jump and the relocated B&B Carousell (assembled in 1919; moved to Coney Island in 1934). Li · Saltzman’s work included archival research; conservation and design review; and presentations to and liaison with municipal regulatory agencies. The park as completed brings together the best of old and new Coney Island.
Designation: NYC Individual Landmark, National Register of Historic Places
