Coney Island - New York's Fabulous Playground -- Only nine miles by subway from the heart of New York, Coney Island, with its sandy beaches and amusement parks, invariably has that overcrowded look. Like its counterparts in other countries, it acts as a magnet to the thousands of people who live and work most of their days in the big city.It has been estimated that over 200,000 people flock to the 4½ miles of beach on public holidays and at weekends. In mid-summer the temperature hovers around the 100 degree mark, and the promenades are then filled with people unable to stand the heat on the sands.July 26, 1955. (Photo by Camera Press).