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Parking? Lots — if you’re a Cyclones ticket holder, that is

for The Brooklyn Paper

Hey, Coney Island beach bums: find a new parking lot this summer!

The Brooklyn Cyclones and the Parks Department announced last week that only a select few non-ticketholders will be able to park at the MCU Park stadium lot during weekend home games.

“Last year, many Cyclone ticketholders had to be turned away from the parking lot because the … lots were full,” said spokesman Philip Abramson, a spokesman for the Parks Department, which owns the lot outside the stadium, formerly known as Keyspan Park.

The lot will now be closed to beach-goers, New York Aquarium visitors and other non-baseball lovers for four hours before the 6 pm start of any Saturday game or 5 pm start of games on Sunday. Only 200 spaces will be set aside for vehicles that aren’t headed to see the boys in uniform.

As a result, the current parking rules — $20 for an all-day spot, with $10 refunded if you exit the parking lot more than two hours before game time — will remain in effect.

The decision came after Cyclones officials fielded angry ticketholders’ complaints that the beach bums were ruining their fun. Abramson said that the Parks Department is required to provide parking for Cyclones home games, which costs $5.

That will be a struggle for drivers in the area this summer — parking becomes a big hassle during the warmer months when other local lots charge an arm and a leg for parking. Plus, it is likely that the Ringling Brothers “Boom-a-Ring” circus will again set up its (pretty) big top on the parking lot of the Abe Stark skating ring just to the west of MCU Park.

And the return of a real amusement park on the former Astroland site to the east of the stadium will mean more traffic and more cars.

The Parks Department’s advice?

“We encourage New Yorkers to utilize public transportation to best enjoy Coney Island and the beach!” Abramson said.

Reader Feedback

Humphry from Bay Ridge says:
Fat jerks who like to watch local baseball are more likely to have cars than the rest of us, so there is some good justification behind this.
March 12, 2010, 11:35 am
catherine from coneyisland says:
omg more hassle 2 park in coney if it isnt a pain in the butt as is. the city has 2 come in and reverse the streets over the winter thanks alot 4 messing up the system city of ny
March 12, 2010, 8:10 pm
Eric McClure from Park Slope says:
Coney Island's Stillwell Avenue station is the world's largest transit terminal. Four subway lines converge there, just a block away from KeySpan, er, MCU Park.

The idea that parking needs to be made easier for Cyclones fans, or anybody else, is silly, and flies in the face of PlaNYC2030's goals for sustainability. Take the subway!

C'mon, Mayor Bloomberg, either we're going to encourage use of transit or we're not. Walk the walk!
March 13, 2010, 12:17 pm
Eric McClure from Park Slope says:
And one more thing -- pricing parking for Cyclones fans at an artificially low $5 makes no sense. Make it $20, and more people will use transit.
March 13, 2010, 12:24 pm
Cyclone Season Ticketholder from Bay Ridge says:
I never used my car to get to Any Cyclone game since 2000, I ride my Bike! When the park first opened there was one bike rack. Now there eight along the block. I love the feeling of riding the bike path down to Coney for some Beer, Nathans Famous, Cyclone's baseball then some fireworks... But the only thing I don't understand is when I'm locking up my bike by the Main Entrance almost every week Me and my Girl get dirty look's or just get made fun from other Cyclone "Fan's"! Here's one memorial comment 'Hay, aren't you a bit too old to still be waring a helmet?!"
Sorry I'm still wearing my Helmet while waiting on line!, But at least I don't have to Fight for Parking...
March 14, 2010, 3:33 am

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