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Rockaways' Playland was an amusement park located on Beach 98th Street in Rockaway Beach in the Borough of Queens, New York City, at Beach 98 Street between Rockaway Beach Boulevard and the beachfront. It was opened in 1902 by William Wainwright and was closed permanently in 1982. [1]
Originally extending to the boardwalk adjoining the beachfront, Playland's area was greatly truncated in the late-1930s by the construction of the Shore Front Parkway at the behest of Robert Moses.
Playland's roller coaster, known as the "Atom Smasher", was prominently featured in the movie This is Cinerama. [2]
It was closed as a result of rising insurance premiums which went from 50,000 in 1985 to 408,000 in 1986. [3] A housing development now occupies Playland's site.
