NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — Brooklyn's iconic amusement parks at Coney Island will officially be reopening for the 2021 season.
The parks were closed last season due to the coronavirus pandemic, but officials announced Monday that guests will be welcomed back on Friday at 11:30 a.m.
"Deno's Wonder Wheel Amusement Park and Luna Park in Coney Island will open their gates to the public, with limited capacity and new COVID guidelines for guests to follow including advanced reservations which can be made on their websites prior to visiting the parks," said the Vourderis Family, owners and operators of Deno's Wonder Wheel Amusement Park.
To kick off the reopening, the park will host the decade-old tradition of the "Blessing of the Rides" ceremony, which will take place on the boardwalk in front of Deno's Wonder Wheel Amusement Park at 10 a.m.
The park will also host the traditional "Egg Cream Christening" of the Coney Island Cyclone at 11 a.m.
This year, to honor COVID frontline workers, Luna Park has announced it will donate 500 admission wristbands to hospital staff from the community and their families.
"It is incredibly exciting to finally have Luna Park in Coney Island filled with guests and joy after a very challenging year," said Alessandro Zamperla, president and CEO of Central Amusement International Inc. "We are tremendously grateful for all of our frontline workers, the heroes who have saved countless lives and continue to help our community heal, for all of our team members who have been waiting since October 2019 to welcome back our guests, and for our community that is so vibrant and resilient."
Guests returning to the parks will also find six new rides at Luna Park: Circus Candy, Fire Patrol, Rainbowheel, AeroMax, Grand Prix, and Mini Mouse.
Later this summer, Deno's Wonder Wheel Amusement Park will also be debuting a new steel suspended rollercoaster called "The Phoenix."
To ensure everyone is safe, both parks have created new COVID guidelines that all guests will be required to follow.
Protocols include physical distancing through reduced capacity, controlled admissions both online and at the gate and distanced eating areas and ride seating.
Park officials note there will be hand sanitizing stations located at every ride and employees will frequently clean "high-touch areas."
Additionally, all guests over the age of two are required to wear a mask while inside the park.
The amusement attractions will be open on weekends through Memorial Day. Starting Memorial Day weekend, the amusement attractions will go into a full 7 day-a-week operation.
