A HALF-MARATHON DAY OF DISCOUNTS

Brooklyn Half-Marathon to Expand Local Business Involvement 

More than 29 participating Coney Island shops, restaurants and attractions to offer race-day discounts to runners and families on Saturday, May 30, 2009

What:            

Join Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, Council Member Domenic M. Recchia, Jr., New York Road Runners president and CEO Mary Wittenberg and Nicole Robinson-Etienne, Coney Island Development Corporation for a press conference in advance of the Brooklyn Half-Marathon.

Who:

Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz

Councilman Domenic M. Recchia, Jr.

New York Road Runners president and CEO, Mary Wittenberg

Coney Island Development Corporation, Nicole Robinson-Etienne

When:                       

Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 1:00 p.m.

Where:                      

Coney Island Boardwalk adjacent to the Parachute Jump

Brooklyn, NY 11224

Rain Location:

Lobby of the Keyspan Stadium

Notes:           

The third race in the NYRR Half-Marathon Grand Prix Presented by Continental Airlines will take nearly 10,000 runners through Brooklyn, NY on a brand new course that starts in Prospect Park and ends in NYC's legendary amusement destination Coney Island. New for this year, more than 29 participating Coney Island shops, restaurants, and attractions will host special discounts to runners and spectators and post-race fun-filled family activities will take place on the beach.

Media Contacts:    

Meghan Chisholm, New York Road Runners, 910.583.4262

Mark Zustovich, Brooklyn Borough President's Office, 718.802.3830 

New York Road Runners

New York Road Runners, founded in 1958, is dedicated to promoting the sport of distance running, enhancing health and fitness for all, and responding to community needs. Our road races and other fitness programs draw upwards of 300,000 runners annually, and together with our magazine and website support and promote professional and recreational running. A staff of more than 100, assisted by thousands of volunteers, stages the ING New York City Marathon, as well as a road race nearly every weekend plus many track and cross country events. NYRR's home base in New York, and its lifelong identification with Central Park, have given many of its events iconic status, attracting the world's top professional runners. Our youth programs provide running to some 50,000 schoolchildren in New York City, around the country, and in South Africa who would otherwise have few or no fitness opportunities. For more information, visit www.nyrr.org.

Brooklyn Borough President's Office

The Brooklyn Borough President's Office advocates for the needs of Brooklyn and its nearly 2.6 million residents, including affordable housing, public health, economic development, education, senior services, youth issues, zoning and uniform land use. The borough president also monitors the delivery of City services in Brooklyn, helping ensure Brooklynites have access to the help they need. In addition to serving as chair of the Borough Board and the Borough Service Cabinet, the borough president makes an appointment to the NYC Department of Education's Panel for Educational Policy and appoints a member to the City Planning Commission. For more information on the Brooklyn Borough President's Office, visit www.brooklyn-usa.org.

Coney Island Development Corporation

The Coney Island Development Corporation (CIDC) was formed in September 2003 by the New York City Mayor, the City Council, and the Brooklyn Borough President.  The 13-member Board of the CIDC includes City officials, local and Brooklyn-wide business and community leaders. It is charged with spearheading and implementing a comprehensive planning process for Coney Island and creating a coordinated economic development strategy for the area.  The CIDC has also relaunched the Coney Island Fun guide, www.ConeyIslandFunGuide.com, which provides residents and visitors with a complete overview of what to see and do in Coney Island, including a full up-to-the-minute calendar of events and programming, as well as details on how to get there. For information about the Coney Island redevelopment plan and the Coney Island Development Corporation, please visit www.thecidc.org.