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Photos: Monsters, Mermaids And Spongebob Emerge At Coney Island Sand Sculpting Contest


By

Jen Chung

Published Aug 21, 2016

Modified Aug 21, 2016


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The group sculpture winner!

 

Sai Mokhtari / Gothamist

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By

Jen Chung

Published Aug 21, 2016

Modified Aug 21, 2016


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Nothing says summer like a good, old-fashioned sand sculpture contest! Yesterday, the 26th Annual Coney Island Sand Sculpting Contest was held, bringing out a mix of pro sand specialists as well as novices and families to show their grit.

Judges, who included NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver, Assemblymember Pamela Harris, Pamela Harris, and Council Member Mark Treyger, surveyed the works and selected three winners. An elaborate "Creature From the Black Lagoon" sculpture by Larry Watkins and Tom Oldewurtel won first place for adult group sculptures, while Jose Aguirre's "Two Mermaids" won for solo adult sculpture. The family winner was the Andrades for the timely "Pokemon Cellphone."

One of the sculptures was an interactive "Winter Wonderland" sculpture and children pretended it was snowy. One participant summed up the day to NY1, "It definitely is an opportunity for everyone to get together and have a great time, you know. And you always hear bad news in the news, and this is something that actually gets the community together and do something good."

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coney island

sand sculpting contest

sand sculpture

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Jen Chung

Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.

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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


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