Sand Dunes
Before settlement in the 1820s, Coney Island was a barrier island composed of tall, stable sand dunes, some so large that they were used as navigational aids by Mariners approaching New York Harbor. The dunes, shaped by wind and tides and covered with vegetation including cypress and pine trees, stabilized Coney Island until they were leveled during the 1880s, when the island was developed. In recent times, the Parks Department has restored some of the sand dunes at Coney Island Creek Park on the opposite side of the creek, re-creating the natural environment of the barrier island.
Submitted by @lampbane