Stillwell Avenue

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Stillwell Avenue
Length: 2.4 mi[1] (3.86 km)
South end: Dead end at Rigelmann Boardwalk in Coney Island
North end: Bay Parkway (becomes Bay Ridge Parkway - former NY 439)
Counties: Kings

Stillwell Avenue is a major thoroughfare in southern Brooklyn and the central section of Coney Island. It is 2.4 miles (3.86 kilometres) long and begins at a dead end on Coney Island. The road goes north, leaving Coney Island, ending at Bay Parkway, where the road continues as the Bay Ridge Parkway (former Route 439). The Stillwell Avenue/Surf Avenue intersection on Coney Island is the location of what is said to be the largest subway station in the world.

Contents

[edit] Street description

Communities

Stillwell Avenue begins at a dead end on Coney Island, just north of the Rigelmann Boardwalk.[1] The road is a parallel for a short time to Henderson Walk until the intersection with Surf Avenue at .2 of a mile. Surf Avenue stretches along the boardwalk on Coney Island. Neptune Avenue is the next intersection, intersecting at .4 of a mile. Stillwell Avenue crosses Coney Island Creek soon after, which reaches into Lower New York Bay. Just after crossing the creek, Stillwell Avenue goes under the Shore Parkway, a section of the Belt Parkway system. Although it does not have an interchange with the road, Exit 6N on the Shore Parkway is for Stillwell Avenue. Instead, the exit lets off at Avenue Z and accesses Stillwell within a mile. Bay 50th Street intersects just after 1 mile. Stillwell passes by Scarangella Park and intersects at 86th Street at 1.6 miles (2.6 km). At 2.3 miles (3.7 km), Kings Highway intersects, which ends soon after at Bay Parkway. Stillwell Avenue comes to an end at Bay Parkway, 2.4 miles (3.9 km) from the dead end. The road continues as Bay Ridge Parkway, a former street making up part of Route 439.[1]

[edit] History

Plans for Stillwell Avenue began in October 1926. The street was to stretch from Bay Parkway (its current northern terminus) and Neptune Avenue on Coney Island (.4 of a mile from the southern terminus). The project was to cost $331,500 and was certified by Brooklyn president James J. Byrne.[2] Stillwell Avenue, at the intersection with Surf Avenue, is the location of an original Nathan's after the first one was torn down.[3]

[edit] Future and culture

The New York Sun newspaper released a story on November 13, 2006 about plans to reinvigorate Coney Island. Most of it was for the amusement parks, including a roller coaster that would go in and out brand-new buildings along Stillwell Avenue. Where Stillwell Avenue meets the Rigelmann Boardwalk, the architect wanted to build a large waterpark and a three-story carousel.[4]

[edit] Transportation

The new Stillwell Avenue (Coney Island) station.
The new Stillwell Avenue (Coney Island) station.
Tracks at the Bay 50th Street station.
Tracks at the Bay 50th Street station.

[edit] Subway

See also: Coney Island–Stillwell Avenue (New York City Subway)

At the Surf Avenue intersection on Coney Island, the largest rapid transit terminal in existence is located on Stillwell Avenue.[5] The station is also the most energy-efficient transit facility in the world. The station, opened in 2004 provides access to the D, F, N and Q trains.[6][7] The other station located along Stillwell Avenue is the Bay 50th Street station in southern Brooklyn. Located in front of the John Dewey High School, the station services 1 line, the D train.[8]

[edit] Bus

The B64 bus line is the only one located on Stillwell Avenue. The B64 travels down Stillwell Avenue from 86th Street and Bath Avenue until ending in Coney Island.

[edit] Major intersections

County Location Mile[1] Roads intersected Notes
Kings Coney Island 0.20 Surf Avenue  
Brooklyn 0.80 Avenue Z to Shore Parkway  
1.10 Bay 50th Street  
2.40 Bay Parkway Northern terminus; continues as Bay Ridge Parkway

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d Google Maps. Overview Map of Stillwell Avenue [map]. Retrieved on 2007-11-05.
  2. ^ BROOKLYN TO PUSH $2,000,000 PROJECTS; Work on Stillwell Avenue Boulevard Will Start This Season, Byrne Says. (HTML) (October 3, 1926). Retrieved on 2007-11-05.
  3. ^ History of Nathan's Hot Dogs (HTML) (2007). Retrieved on 2007-11-05.
  4. ^ A $1.5 Billion Vision for Coney Island (HTML) (November 2006). Retrieved on 2007-11-05.
  5. ^ Lynch, Brian. "BIPV showcase – Stillwell Avenue station", Earthscan, November 2, 2005. Retrieved on 2007-11-09. 
  6. ^ Matus, Paul. The New BMT Coney Island Terminal. The Third Rail Online. Retrieved on 2007-08-29.
  7. ^ nycsubway.org — BMT Culver Line: Coney Island/Stillwell Avenue
  8. ^ nycsubway.org — BMT West End Line: Bay 50th Street