Three years from now, Westchester County will celebrate the 100th anniversary of Playland, the historic amusement park on the shores of Long Island Sound that has drawn generations of families.
I took my family there in the early 2000s, with my sons screaming with joy on the Dragon Coaster, loving the splash when the Log Flume descended, and trying their hand at knocking over milk bottles at a booth along the midway.
During the 2010s, I’d occasionally frequent the bandstand on a hot summer night to dance the Lindy Hop to jazz standards played by Milt Gerver’s Playland Park Orchestra.
Playland has also been fodder for my reporting since the 1990s, when I wrote about the state Commission of Government Integrity’s report on questionable fundraising practices by then-Playland Director Richard Keeler, who was also an operative for the then-powerful Westchester County Republican Committee. The report detailed a “blurred line” between the workings of government and Westchester Republican Party politics. The report found that Keeler did some of his fundraising from his office at Playland.
When Republican County Executive Rob Astorino pushed his privatization agenda in the 2010s, I wrote about the saga. It began with Sustainable Westchester’s failed bid to take over the park and build an indoor recreational facility and playing fields in the spacious Playland parking lot.
During those same years, I wrote about the emergence of the Westchester Children’s Museum as a destination for Westchester families along the Playland boardwalk. The nonprofit museum, however, was separate from the amusement park, and has thrived under its independent leadership.
Westchester’s privatization push produced Playland deal with Standard Amusements
Then came Standard Amusements in 2015, ushering in an updated version of Astorino’s vision, with the private company in charge. It was part of Astorino’s plan to take a chunk of Playland’s financial weight off the backs of Westchester taxpayers.
When the Democrats took control following George Latimer’s ouster of Astorino in 2017, Latimer attempted to scrap the privatization deal. But Westchester lost in U.S. Bankruptcy Court, after spending $5.5 million in legal fees.
A new arrangement under Latimer included a robust commitment by Westchester to revive the park, with high expectations for Standard Amusements’ 30-year contract to run things. Westchester invested an estimated $150 million to bring the park’s aging infrastructure up to speed. But three years later, Standard decided to terminate its management of the park, arguing that Westchester had breached the agreement.
Now Westchester taxpayers are on the hook for $36 million to repay Standard for its investment. And the price-tag for the messy divorce could reach $57 million if an arbitration panel finds Westchester was responsible for the default.
But hope springs eternal at Playland in its 98th year. The company that runs the Tiki Beach restaurant plans to expand its operations with food service for patrons of the Playland pool and Playland beach, who will be able to order food online and have it delivered.
While the park will open to some extent on Memorial Day weekend, it’s uncertain how many of Playland’s rides will be open for the start of the season. The county in May selected a company to help Westchester assess the condition of its attractions and assist with repairs. Then the state Department of Labor needs to certify that the rides are safe before they are opened to the public.
Those of us who love Playland are still waiting to hear when the historic Dragon Coaster will roar once more.
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David McKay Wilson writes about tax issues and government accountability. Follow him on Twitter @davidmckay415 or email him at dwilson3@lohud.com.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: As Playland nears centennial, sudden uncertainty clouds future of famed amusement park
Reporting by David McKay Wilson, Rockland/Westchester Journal News / Rockland/Westchester Journal News
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