originally posted on 6/14/2019
In May 2016, the Westchester County’s Board of Legislators voted to give control of the operation of Playland Park, (Rye, New York) to the Standard Amusements LLC management company. Standard agreed to invest $32.7 million in the park and operate it (first to co-manage and then to run the park independently) under contract for 30 years. Westchester County would continue to maintain ownership. The move ended a six-year process to find a private-sector manager to take over day-to-day operations of the financially strapped park that has attendance issues. The county was also expected to chip in $32 million itself to restore much of the park's deteriorating infrastructure, which reportedly could cost up to $140 million total for a full needed “gut renovation.”
Photo: Mark Rosenzweig. View full-sized image.
As part of its very long-range goals for the park, Standard Amusements prepared an extensive master plan. Features included the intention to build a “new version” of the legendary Airplane coaster within the next 10 years. The renowned wooden coaster (aka Aeroplane Dips, Aero-Coaster and Aeroplane) designed by Frederick Church ran from 1928 to 1957 at Playland. The plan also intended to consider adding five new signature rides, nine kiddie rides, at least six new restaurant locations, 500 new trees and updates to the Zombie Castle dark ride.
Though it may have been only an intriguing tease-dream or a vague overpromise that the coaster might ever rise again, it is unfortunate to report that the relationship between those doing the dreaming, Standard Amusements, and the county has gone downhill, precipitously. New County Executive George Latimer does not like how the arrangement, approved by the previous administration (who also happened to be of a different political party), has been working out. He has canceled the contract with Standard Amusements, and (as noted by The Journal News [lohud.com] and the New York Post) said, “We are unhappy with the way this has all turned out.” His team has clashed with Standard management and has questioned the firm’s expenditures, claiming it has spent too much on travel, meals, salaries, profit-sharing and lawyer fees and has not invested as promised.
Part of this unhappiness with Standard may be because of the findings it reported concerning the condition of the park, citing the county’s complete mishandling of food safety, failure to “secure” the wooden Dragon Coaster and lack of proper fire suppression technology. As for Dragon Coaster, inspectors found rotten wooden beams holding up the 90-year-old coaster and rusted bolts securing the wood, according to reports prepared in November 2017 and August 2018. “To ensure rider safety, all cases of visible rot and all square head bolts should be replaced,” James Swinden, design engineer for Great Coasters International, wrote in the report.
“We addressed all of those issues and actually more,” Deputy Parks Commissioner Peter Tartaglia said. The county released a letter from Savin Engineers, based on an inspection done recently, saying the bolt replacement had been completed adequately. Tartaglia said the state’s department of labor issued an operating permit for the coaster, and the ride is inspected daily before the park opens.
Standard claims the county is whitewashing concerns raised by its experts and consultants, including the food safety and proper fire suppression issues, saying that the county “ignored the report’s findings and instead attacked [Standard Amusements] for having arranged the inspection.” However, Westchester County spokeswoman Catherine Cioffi said the county disputed “quite a few” of the issues found. “They’re trying to say we don’t run the park in a safe manner, which is completely bogus.”
As for their conflicts with the county and the desire of the county executive to end their relationship, Standard Amusements concluded, “This decision by the county executive is deeply disappointing and devastatingly false. It exposes taxpayers to hundreds of millions of dollars in losses from Playland’s extensive capital needs and needless litigation. Standard Amusements has worked for nine years and spent more than $10 million on its mission to save Playland. [We] remain more committed than ever to restoring Playland to its former glory.”
Latimer said he has a different philosophy and believes if given the resources, county staff can effectively run the park, albeit with private partnerships for marketing and other aspects. He promised a fresh review of Playland’s future and is not ruling out involving a private firm in its operations.
In the meantime, the good news for the classic 91-year-old park and for ride enthusiasts is that the art deco gem has opened for the season, featuring its five coasters, including the ACE Roller Coaster Landmark Dragon Coaster.
— Randy Geisler
@#$%&!
#ACENews