NYC Releases RFQ for $1B Riegelmann Boardwalk Reconstruction

• NYCEDC and NYC Parks have released an RFQ for a progressive design-build team to completely reconstruct the 2.4-mile Riegelmann Boardwalk from West 37th Street to Brighton 15th Street in Brooklyn.
• The $1.15 billion project will replace the boardwalk’s piles, pile caps and decking while adding coastal resiliency features, utilities, accessible ramps and plazas.
• The broader Coney Island investment also calls for 1,500 new homes, with 25% planned as affordable, plus street, sewer and public-realm improvements.

What The Boardwalk Project Includes

The city has taken a major procurement step toward rebuilding the nearly century-old Riegelmann Boardwalk, with responses to the RFQ due November 4, 2026. A shortlist will advance to a Request for Proposals, with selection of the progressive design-build team expected in spring 2027. The project will reconstruct the boardwalk structure from the piles upward, while improving its ability to withstand storms and future sea-level impacts. Portions will be elevated to approximately 16 feet above NAVD88, with protective barriers incorporated below grade.

 

 

What The $1.15B Investment Adds

The reconstruction goes beyond replacing aging timber and structural components. Plans include new lighting, furnishings, railings, stairs, ramps, street-end plazas and utility infrastructure. The city also plans to renovate or replace nine restroom buildings, six lifeguard stations and four shade pavilions, along with improvements to open space at the eastern end and reconstruction of a garage with a public restroom. The construction strategy is expected to preserve boardwalk and beach access during peak summer periods, an important consideration for Coney Island businesses and the surrounding hospitality and retail market.

 

 

What The Coney Island Housing Pipeline Adds

The boardwalk reconstruction is part of a much larger city investment in Coney Island. The package announced in December 2025 includes 1,500 new mixed-income homes, with 25% designated as affordable, alongside new streets, sewers and public-realm improvements. The city has also been advancing Coney Island West, including a city-owned development site expected to deliver more than 500 mixed-income homes and ground-floor retail. For developers and property owners, the combination of new housing, infrastructure and waterfront improvements could reshape the development environment around the Coney Island amusement district and surrounding residential neighborhoods.

What Comes Next For Riegelmann Boardwalk

The progressive design-build model allows the selected team to refine the design, cost and schedule collaboratively with the city before construction advances. The boardwalk opened in 1923 and was designated a New York City Scenic Landmark in 2018. The latest procurement moves the $1.15 billion reconstruction from planning toward contractor selection, with the next major milestone coming when the city shortlists qualified teams.