Coney Island in Brooklyn in Kings County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Gene Ritter Way
Kaiser Park
How did this site become a park?
In 1934 NYC Parks acquired the first portion of this property and the park opened in 1935. The park expanded in 1937 and was known as Coney Island Lots. In 1951 the park was renamed for Dr. Leon S. Kaiser (1884-1951), a dedicated educator and community leader who served as Mark Twain Junior High School's first principal. This walkway was named for Gene Ritter in 2024.
Who is this park named for?
Gene Ritter (1959-2018) was an environmental advocate diver, and educator in Coney Island and greater New York.
A Brooklyn native, Ritter grew up on West 16th Street near Coney Island Creek. As a teen, Ritter became a certified diver and later founded the Cultural Research Divers, an organization focused on recovering underwater artifacts and making them accessible to students across the city. One of Ritter's most noted finds was the Dreamland Bell, which welcomed steamship riders to the New Iron Pier but disappeared in the Dreamland Park fire in 1911. In 2009, after 20 years of searching, he located the bell offshore, and it was put back on public display.
Ritter also created It's My
this page online
Erected 2024 by NYC Parks. (Marker Number 300.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Education • Parks & Recreational Areas • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the NYC Parks series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1934.
Location. 40° 34.816′ N, 73° 59.804′ W. Marker is in Brooklyn, New York, in Kings County. It is on Coney Island. It can be reached from Bayview Avenue 0.2 miles north of Neptune Avenue, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Brooklyn NY 11224, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in New York City and on Long Island. It is also in the American Northeast, in the Mid-Atlantic, and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Shipwrecks (here, next to this marker); Yellow Submarine (a few steps from this marker); Fishing the Creek (within shouting distance of this marker); Egrets and Swans (within shouting distance of this marker); Spartina Salt Marsh (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Coney Island Creek (about 300 feet away); a different marker also named Fishing the Creek (approx. 0.2 miles away); Sand Dunes (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Brooklyn.
Also see . . . (YouTube) Gene Ritter Way Dedication at Kaiser Park, Coney Island | 2024 Event Highlights. (Submitted on September 2, 2024, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.)
Credits. This page was last revised on September 2, 2024. It was originally submitted on September 2, 2024, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 140 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 2, 2024, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
