 The Coney Island waterfront was originally subdivided among several private entities who erected barriers to separate their land holdings.Plans for a Coney Island boardwalk were first discussed in the late 1890s as a means of uniting the different sections of Coney Island, and as a revitalization project for these areas.The boardwalk, designed by Philip P. Farley, opened in 1923 and was named after Brooklyn borough president Edward J. Riegelmann, who led its construction.