Astroland Gets One-Year Reprieve!

There's so much interesting Coney Island news in advance of the Mermaid Parade that one wonders is an orchestrated charm offensive is not underway. Today's volley: Astroland won't be closing at the end of this year, after all!

Councilman Domenic Recchia Jr. has apparently brokered a deal that will keep the amusement park open for the 2008 season. Operator Carol Hill Albert has been looking for a way to keep the park open since she sold it property to developer Joe Sitt for $30 million in November. The New York Post reports that Ms. Albert and Mr. Sitt are working out terms of the deal and that Thor will be paid for allowing the park to stay open on its property. Ms. Albert continues to work with the city to try to find land near KeySpan Park to reopen Astroland. Presumably, the Astroland rides, which as of yesterday were still available for sale online, will now be taken down.

So, it would appear to be time to put away those "Coney Island's Last Summer" laments until next year.