Coney Island is getting a glow-up just in time for beach season.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani has officially launched a new Business Improvement District for the famed waterfront neighborhood, backed by a first-year operating budget of up to $1 million aimed at cleaner streets, stronger small businesses and a more polished boardwalk experience before summer crowds roll in.
The mayor signed the certificate of incorporation on Sunday, calling the new BID “a new era of investment” for a neighborhood that attracts more than 5 million visitors each year. Once operational—city officials say the goal is July 2026—the district will become Brooklyn’s 24th BID and the 78th citywide, joining a network that sends hundreds of millions of dollars annually into local commercial corridors.
The money is largely intended for practical upgrades with a side of curb appeal. Plans include supplemental sanitation, landscaping and marketing along Surf and Mermaid Avenues, the neighborhood’s primary commercial arteries. That means power-washing shared spaces, adding seasonal lighting, rolling out new promotional campaigns and installing details like potted plants to brighten up storefront blocks.
The city says the funding builds on more than $850,000 already invested in Coney Island for merchant organizing and commercial revitalization. And for business owners, the sanitation component is the big headline. Dennis Vourderis of Deno’s Wonder Wheel Amusement Park told Gothamist that consistent cleaning services have long been a priority for local merchants, especially during the busy summer stretch when crowds spike.
If you’re wondering why the city leans so heavily on BIDs, the numbers tell the story. Across New York, these districts deliver services beyond what municipal agencies provide—ranging from street cleaning to marketing events. In 2024 alone, BIDs collectively infused more than $207 million into neighborhood programs and services while maintaining hundreds of public spaces citywide, according to a city report.
The Coney Island BID is expected to fund beautification efforts, public-space programming and technical support for local businesses. While the improvements will certainly make the boardwalk prettier, city officials say the goal is to create a more resilient commercial district that can support year-round activity, not just summer tourists chasing funnel cake and fireworks.
For longtime fans of the seaside strip, the changes could mean a noticeably cleaner, brighter and more coordinated neighborhood by the time the first heatwave hits. And for Coney Island’s small businesses, the new BID represents a collective voice—and a fresh pool of resources—designed to keep one of New York’s most storied destinations thriving long after the Ferris wheel stops spinning each night.
