Preservation Group Wants You to Show Your Love for Coney Island This Valentine's Day

A group leading an effort to save Coney Island’s Sunlite Pool is offering others the chance to show their love for the historic amusement park.

Many were devastated after it was announced in December that Music and Events Management Inc. (MEMI), a subsidiary of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra (CSO), purchased Coney Island and has plans to demolish it to build a new music venue. Now, in honor of Valentine’s Day, the Save Coney Islanders, a group dedicated to working with MEMI and the CSO to save Sunlite Pool from demolition, wants others to share their love of the landmark by taking part in a virtual love fest.

“For well over 100 years, people have been taking photos with their sweethearts at Coney Island…now it’s your turn!” organizers said in a press release. “Take a selfie with your sweetheart in front of the historic Coney Island gate on Kellogg Avenue. … Post it on Instagram with the tag #lovecincyconey [and share] your Instagram post with your friends and encourage them to do the same.”

Your selfie partner can be anyone or anything you love, including your significant other, best friend, pet, family or a food or hobby you enjoy, says organizers. And if you don’t have an Instagram, you’re welcome to email your photo to saveconeyislanders1886@gmail.com, and they will tag it for you.

And if you have any photos of Coney Island, the Cincinnati Public Library is looking to add more pictures to its digital photo archives. You can submit digital copies of original Coney Island pictures for possible inclusion in the archive by direct messaging the library on social media or emailing research@chpl.org. The library asks you to include any known dates, names and descriptions.

The Coney Island gate is located at 6201 Kellogg Ave. For more information on the Save Coney Islanders effort, visit saveconeyislanders.com.