When Maple Lanes Closes, Shell Lanes May Get Angled Parking To Accommodate Bowlers

Maple Lanes, the beloved Bensonhurst bowling alley that has stood at 1570 60th Street for over four decades is due to close.

At the public hearing to discuss the status of the bowling alley and the proposed construction projects to be erected in its place, Borough President Marty Markowitz put forth several suggestions that would either keep the bowling alley open for a longer period of time or create a new bowling alley in a different location to take its place.

One such suggestion on the table deals with potential overcrowding of Shell Lanes at 1 Bouck Court in Gravesend, the only bowling alley left in the nearby area.

According to the notes from the hearing, Markowitz believes that when Maple Lanes closes, patrons may come to Shell Lanes to continue league tournaments and recreational bowling. However, Shell Lanes does not have any off-street parking to accommodate an influx of people.

Markowitz wants a study funded by the developers with the help of Community Board 15 and the Department of Transportation in order to determine the feasibility of angled parking on Shell Road, from Avenue X to the Belt Parkway.

Shell Road, which is adjacent to Shell Lanes, has a wide parking lane that Markowitz believes would work as a parking lane if instated south of Avenue X. Angled parking creates more spaces than parallel parking.

If the study finds angled parking feasible, Markowitz suggests that the developers fund its construction.

Until the study is completed, he recommends that Maple Lanes remain open so as not to overburden the areas near Shell Lanes or deprive residents of a functioning family bowling alley.

Thus far, the developers of the project have made no commitment to keep Maple Lanes open for any period of time related to a parking study. They also made no comment related to funding a parking study or how long Maple Lanes has until it is shut down for good.

Community Board 15 voted in favor of a resolution last week calling for DOT to do the feasibility’s study, at Markowitz’s request.