“Our organization was a reaction to the feeling that Bloomberg’s administration didn’t really care about Coney Island,” said Juan Rivero, a spokesman for Save Coney Island. “Since then we have responded in arguing that the area is too small for the plan of the city.”

Since its establishment, Save Coney Island has been  fighting the city’s rezoning plan by promoting its cause around the community -- conducting rallies and raising awareness about the future of Coney Island. When the redevelopment plan was approved by the City Council anyway, Save Coney Island  filed a lawsuit against the city, claiming that a proper environmental review of the area was not conducted according to the required legal standard.

“[The city’s] plan erases Coney Island’s past and sacrifices its future,” said Rivero. “New Yorkers don’t want a small amusement park walled off by high-rise towers. They want extraordinary Coney Island, worthy of its name and history. The lawsuit keeps that dream alive.”

The city’s proposed rezoning plan includes a 12-acre outdoor amusement park, and a 15-acre hotel and indoor entertainment area. The advocacy group says that the designated amusement area is too small to accommodate all the rides and the estimated 3.5 million people projected to visit Coney Island. They also say that the proposed high-rise hotels along Surf Avenue will ultimately “create a wall” and cast shadows over the amusement park.

Save Coney Island has also been fighting the city’s proposal to redevelop the few historical buildings in the area that have not been landmarked, and can therefore  be altered or even destroyed. The advocates say that buildings like Nathan’s Famous and the Bank of Coney Island are a vital part of Coney Island’s history and culture, and are “worthy of preservation.”

The organization is currently fighting to have the amusement area expanded, rather than diminished, even if it means having to purchase additional land. They also hope to have the projected hotels relocated north of Surf Avenue and west of Keyspan Park, so that they won’t overshadow the heart of Coney Island.

Despite the struggles, Rivero says that Save Coney Island will continue urging the Bloomberg administration to fix the redevelopment plan and preserve the historic value of Coney Island.

“The effort is in mitigating the problems that we’re challenging,” said Rivero. “We’re concerned with articulating a vision for a greater Coney Island.”

For more information on Save Coney Island visit www.saveconeyisland.net.