Parachute Jump Lighting Designer Peeved at New Plan

Leni Schwendinger, who designed the lighting scheme for the Coney Island Parachute Jump that Borough President Marty Markowitz announced it's being done again as a "Phase II," is speaking out and is not entirely pleased. The city has issued a 178-page RFP for the "lighting enhancement." (Mr. Markowitz originally called the redone stucture "a beacon of light for this and future generations, harking and heralding Coney Island as a place where dreams come true." Last week, he said it needed "more bling.") In any case, Schwendinger had a small op-ed in the Post yesterday. Here's what it said:

The Coney Island Parachute Jump illumination is an internationally recognized symbol of Coney Island and Brooklyn - created in close collaboration with NYC's Economic Development Corporation, the Department of Parks and Recreation, the Brooklyn Borough President's office and the respected engineering firm STV...For over two years, this design - depicting seasons, moods and the Coney-by-the-Sea carnival tradition - has appealed to audiences, young and old and from every walk of life.

It has been celebrated in publications worldwide, and it has received awards from professional engineering, construction, lighting and landmark associations.

When a politician flies in the face of all this goodwill to divisively demand more "bling" and less "art," New Yorkers should ask themselves: What's wrong with this picture?

By the way, if anyone recalls the amount that was spent on the original lighting project, please let us know. We've looked all over the place and can only find the aggregate amount spent on rehabbing the entire structure ($5 million). The new project, including rehabbing the base of the structure would cost $1.5 million.