Seven Brooklyn nonprofits sent three-person teams racing across Luna Park's eight roller coasters on Sunday, chasing stamps and a share of $25,000 during the park's annual Coasterthon. Teams had two hours to hit as many of the park's coasters as they could, collecting a stamp after every completed ride to determine their final ranking.
The event, held on National Roller Coaster Day, distributed $25,000 across all seven participating organizations, according to PIX11. The first-place team took home $10,000, with the rest of the field also guaranteed funding regardless of finish, according to the Brooklyn Eagle, which reported the full payout breakdown: $5,000 for second place, $3,000 for third, and $1,000 apiece to each of the remaining four nonprofits. Every group left with something, turning a morning of coaster laps into a guaranteed windfall for causes ranging from youth mental health to marine conservation.
This year's roster included Art's House Schools of Music, Dance, and Fine Arts, Brooklyn United, Children of Promise, Coney Island Sharks, The B.R.O. Experience, Coney Island USA, and the Wildlife Conservation Society, per Time Out. Teams ran the gauntlet across eight rides — the Coney Island Cyclone, Thunderbolt, Tony's Express, Steeplechase, Soarin' Eagle, Circus Coaster, The Tickler, and Mini Mouse — mixing century-old wooden thrills with newer steel builds.
Aquarium Keeper Rode for More Than Bragging Rights
Among the competitors was Kira Knotts, a wild animal keeper at the New York Aquarium, which is part of the Wildlife Conservation Society, the nonprofit focused on protecting wildlife and wild places that fielded a team in this year's race, according to PIX11's reporting. Knotts said the organization's work spans animals, the environment, conservation, supporting people, and raising awareness about environmental protection.
She said funding and public attention from events like the Coasterthon can support conservation work stretching from the nearby ocean to wildlife habitats around the world. Knotts and her teammates said they aimed simply to have fun while raising awareness for their organization.
Park Operator Frames Event as Lasting Impact
Alessandro Zamperla, president and CEO of Central Amusement International, the company that owns and operates Luna Park, said the event sought to create a positive, lasting impact while bringing smiles to participants and spectators alike. He said the day's proceeds support youth mental health, academics, sports, and dance programs across the participating groups.
Central Amusement International, a subsidiary of Italian ride manufacturer Antonio Zamperla S.p.A., opened Luna Park in May 2010 as part of a redevelopment project on the former Astroland site, according to Wikipedia. The company has also operated and maintained the city-owned Coney Island Cyclone under a lease with New York City since 2011, per blooloop — a public-private arrangement that lets the park use a municipal landmark as the centerpiece of its charity events.
A Recurring Playbook Tied to Coaster Milestones
Sunday's event fell on National Roller Coaster Day, which commemorates the 1898 patent of Edwin Prescott's vertical-loop coaster, originally built on Coney Island near where the Cyclone now stands, according to the Coney Island History Project. The Cyclone itself opened in 1927 at a cost of $175,000 and was designated a New York City Landmark in 1988, per Atlas Obscura. It turns 99 this year, with Luna Park preparing for its centennial in 2027.
This isn't the first time Luna Park has used a coaster milestone to power a fundraiser. In June 2024, the park ran a similar $25,000 Coasterthon involving 10 local nonprofits to mark the 10th anniversary of the Thunderbolt steel coaster, establishing a clear precedent for pairing charity drives with coaster anniversaries. The park has also tied opening weekend to giving back, directing a portion of ticket sales to Brooklyn youth groups like the Coney Island Sharks and Children of Promise — two of the same organizations that raced coasters on Sunday.
