Boardwalk (entertainment district)
– **History**:
– Seaside living and entertainment became popular in the 19th century.
– Boardwalks were initially temporary but became permanent over time.
– Railings were added to enhance safety as boardwalks expanded.
– Boardwalk districts attracted more businesses and amusement rides.
– Boardwalks were promoted as health resorts due to perceived medicinal properties of seawater.
– **Notable Boardwalks**:
– Atlantic City Boardwalk in New Jersey is 5 miles long.
– Coney Island’s Riegelmann Boardwalk features iconic amusement parks.
– The Ocean City, Maryland boardwalk dates back to 1902.
– Kemah Boardwalk in Texas offers various attractions like a Ferris wheel and roller coaster.
– **Atlantic City**:
– The Atlantic City Boardwalk is the first in the U.S.
– It spans 5 miles, extending into Ventnor City.
– Features include casinos, hotels, retail stores, and amusements.
– Popular attractions on the boardwalk include rolling chairs and saltwater taffy.
– Steel Pier is a notable amusement pier along the boardwalk.
– **Coney Island**:
– Riegelmann Boardwalk in Coney Island is 2.51 miles long.
– Home to famous attractions like the Cyclone roller coaster and Wonder Wheel.
– Luna Park and Denos Wonder Wheel Amusement Park are also on the boardwalk.
– The New York Aquarium is a prominent feature.
– The defunct Parachute Jump ride is part of the boardwalk’s history.
– **Ocean City**:
– The Ocean City, Maryland boardwalk is 2.5 miles long.
– It started as temporary boards stored at high tide.
– In 1910, a permanent boardwalk was constructed.
– The boardwalk is lined with businesses typical of East Coast boardwalks.
– It remains one of the oldest boardwalks in the U.S.
A boardwalk is a promenade along a beach or waterfront. In North America, and particularly in the United States, many waterfront commercial boardwalks have become so successful as tourist attractions that the simple wooden pathways have been replaced by esplanades made of concrete, brick or other construction, sometimes with a wooden façade on the surface. An entertainment boardwalk often contains an amusement park, casinos, or hotels on a pier-like structure. One of the earliest such boardwalks was designed in New Jersey and opened June 26, 1870, in Atlantic City, and one of the longest is Mazatlán's Malecón, at 13 miles (21 km) of oceanfront boardwalk.
