Rockaways' Playland
Encyclopedia
Rockaways' Playland was an amusement park
located on Beach 98th Street in Rockaway Beach
in the Borough of Queens, New York City
, at Beach 98 Street between Rockaway Beach Boulevard
and the beachfront. It was opened in 1902 by William Wainwright
and was closed permanently in 1985.
Originally extending to the boardwalk
adjoining the beachfront, Playland's area was greatly truncated in the late-1930s by the construction of the Shore Front Parkway
at the behest of Robert Moses
.
Playland's roller coaster
, known as the "Atom Smasher", was prominently featured in the movie This is Cinerama
.
A housing development now occupies Playland's site.
Amusement park
thumb|Cinderella Castle in [[Magic Kingdom]], [[Disney World]]Amusement and theme parks are terms for a group of entertainment attractions and rides and other events in a location for the enjoyment of large numbers of people...
located on Beach 98th Street in Rockaway Beach
Rockaway Beach, Queens
Rockaway Beach is a neighborhood on the Rockaway Peninsula in the New York City borough of Queens. It is located on the South Shore of Long Island. The neighborhood is bounded by Arverne to the east and Rockaway Park to the west...
in the Borough of Queens, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, at Beach 98 Street between Rockaway Beach Boulevard
Rockaway Beach Boulevard
Rockaway Beach Boulevard, opened in 1886, was the first major east-west thoroughfare on the Rockaway Peninsula in the Borough of Queens in New York City. Much of its route parallels the Rockaway Freeway and the IND Rockaway Line above the Freeway...
and the beachfront. It was opened in 1902 by William Wainwright
William Wainwright (land developer)
William Wainwright was a real-estate developer who was largely responsible in the late 19th and early 20th century for the transformation of Rockaway Beach, New York into a major resort and amusement area....
and was closed permanently in 1985.
Originally extending to the boardwalk
Boardwalk
A boardwalk, in the conventional sense, is a wooden walkway for pedestrians and sometimes vehicles, often found along beaches, but they are also common as paths through wetlands, coastal dunes, and other sensitive environments....
adjoining the beachfront, Playland's area was greatly truncated in the late-1930s by the construction of the Shore Front Parkway
Shore Front Parkway
Shore Front Parkway is a two-lane beachfront road paralleling the boardwalk in Rockaway Beach in the New York City borough of Queens, running between Beach 73rd Street and Beach 108th Street....
at the behest of Robert Moses
Robert Moses
Robert Moses was the "master builder" of mid-20th century New York City, Long Island, Rockland County, and Westchester County, New York. As the shaper of a modern city, he is sometimes compared to Baron Haussmann of Second Empire Paris, and is one of the most polarizing figures in the history of...
.
Playland's roller coaster
Roller coaster
The roller coaster is a popular amusement ride developed for amusement parks and modern theme parks. LaMarcus Adna Thompson patented the first coasters on January 20, 1885...
, known as the "Atom Smasher", was prominently featured in the movie This is Cinerama
This is Cinerama
This is Cinerama is a 1952 full-length film designed to introduce the then-new widescreen process Cinerama, which broadens the aspect ratio so the viewer's peripheral vision is involved...
.
A housing development now occupies Playland's site.