Latest news with #StandardAmusements
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Fans Fear a 'Heartbreaking' Summer as Iconic N.Y. Amusement Park Playland Faces Uncertain 2025 Opening
A local government legal battle is jeopardizing the future of a nearly 100-year-old theme park in New York County officials in Westchester County, N.Y., are at odds with the management company Standard Amusements after theme park managers alleged that the local government did not honor its contracts and construction obligations. The county denies these claims Rye Playland is 96 years old and has been open every summer since since 1928, expect for 2020 during the COVID pandemic A historic New York theme park is in jeopardy after its management said that it may not be able to run it this summer — and longtime fans are in uproar. Rye Playland is a historic, 96-year-old, 280-acre amusement park that sits along the Long Island Sound in Rye, N.Y.— located about 30 miles outside Manhattan — that has been open every summer (other than 2020) since Calvin Coolidge was president and has even been featured in movies like Tom Hanks' Big and Fatal Attraction. Officials in the state's Westchester County are uncertain of the park's future, according to reports from Gothamist and Fox 5 NY, as the park's management, Standard Amusements had accused the county of improper conduct when it comes to their contract. Related: Mom Sues Disney for $2 Million After Claiming a 'Mammoth Wave' Injured Her in a Typhoon Lagoon Kiddie Pool: 'There Was Blood' Playland, Westchester County and Standard Amusements had a privatization deal that allowed the county to own the land that the park sits on while the company operates the park, per the outlets. Although Standard Amusements had signed a 30-year contract to manage Playland, the company has accused Westchester County of failing to finish construction and meet contractual deadlines — but the county is denying these claims, trigging a local government controversy. County officials are now speaking out about the deal, which they called "one-sided" and said that local taxpayers have been left to deal with the fallout. Westchester County communications director Catherine Cioffi criticized former county executives for brokering the deal that has cost taxpayers $125 million and left the park in "heartbreaking" condition, despite initially being promised as $30 million, in a statement to Gothamist. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. 'This is exactly what happens when someone with a radical ideology, no real experience, no financial skill, and no understanding of how budgets and contracts are built seeks an executive position,' she said. County Executive Ken Jenkins added during his "State of the County" address last week that he planned to open the theme park this week despite the controversy, according to the outlets, although he did not share specific dates. Related: Universal Announces 'Thrilling' New Theme Park, but It's Not in Florida or California "Playland is more than just a park; it is a cherished treasure, the crown jewel of Westchester — a place where memories are made, and community thrives," Jenkins said, per Gothamist. "Despite the legal challenges we face with Standard Amusements, on a bad deal handed to us by a previous administration, a deal that I ultimately voted against because it requires the county to repay all of Standard Amusements' investments, my intentions remain to open Playland for the 2025 season." The park typically opens on Mother's Day, which will be Sunday, May 11, 2025. The county also accused Standard Amusements of failing to properly conduct several safety checks, but the company denied those allegations to the Rockland/Westchester Journal News. 'As managers of Playland, Standard Amusements prioritized both the improvement and maintenance of rides to the highest standard, including the winterization of rides after the end of the 2024 season consistent with both previous years and industry standards," a spokesperson told the outlet in a statement. "This is yet another baseless claim from the County to try to distract from its own failures to prioritize Playland.' Locals in Westchester County have shared their disappointment more than anyone — as visiting the park has been a generations-long tradition for some families. "It would be heartbreaking," a Rye resident told Fox 5 of the prospect of the park not opening. "My husband's birthday is on Mother's Day, and [Playland is] where we were going to be," local grandmother Kathryn Burke, who wrote a book on a history of Playland in 2008, told the Journal News. "I don't think that's happening this year." Read the original article on People
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Playland amusement park opening in jeopardy: 'It would be heartbreaking'
The Brief A summer without Rye Playland is now a possibility. The historic amusement park has opened every summer, except for COVID, since Calvin Coolidge was president. But after the company that signed on to run the park abruptly ended its 30-year deal this winter, the park's future is still in jeopardy. WESTCHESTER COUNTY - With summer fast approaching, the opening of Rye Playland, the 96-year-old amusement park that sits along the Long Island Sound, is in jeopardy. What we know The historic Playland Park has opened every summer, except for COVID, since Calvin Coolidge was president. But after the company that signed on to run the park abruptly ended its 30-year deal this winter – just three years in – the park's future is still in jeopardy. The thought of not seeing Playland reopen is emotional for one Rye couple, who remember the days when admission was less than a dollar. "It would be heartbreaking," they said. The backstory Playland's roller-coaster ride began over a decade ago when Standard Amusements took on the project. In a controversial privatization deal, Westchester County would own the 280 acres of land, while Standard Amusements would run it. In the middle of winter, however, a sudden about-face – Standard Amusements at the time claimed the county did not meet construction obligations and missed contractual deadlines. The county has denied the allegations. What they're saying Meanwhile, Westchester County Communications director Catherine Cioffi puts the blame on the previous Republican administration, calling the deal to privatize it a "sweetheart deal" to "unload public treasures at the expense of our county's most cherished residents – our children." Cioffi goes on to say that county taxpayers are now on the hook to return 100% of Standard Amusements' investment, a whopping $125 million. In his state of the county address last week, County Executive Ken Jenkins still promised that Playland would open this summer in some form. When FOX 5 NY pressed the administration on what rides or attractions would be available, officials said they're still assessing – and with no set date yet. The other side In a statement, Christine Sculti, a Republican candidate for Westchester County executive, said, in part: "The operating agreement for Playland that recently collapsed is not the deal struck by the Astorino administration. That original 2015 agreement was supported by then-Legislator Ken Jenkins as part of a unanimous vote by the Board of Legislators."
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Iconic Playland park's opening remains a mystery as taxpayers already on hook for $36M in management flap
It's a mystery when the iconic Playland amusement park will open for the season – but if and when it does it may be with only limited rides and attractions. Westchester County taxpayers are already on the hook to pay as much as $36 million to the park's former management company, Standard Amusements — as government officials had no answers for the county-owned park in 2025 except to say they 'intend' to open it in some form. 'Our intention is to get as much of the park open and accessible to the public as possible,' said county Legislator Catherine Parker, who lives near the waterfront park which was featured in the Tom Hanks movie 'Big.' 'I believe we will have at least – I don't know if it's going to be Kiddie Land or what it's going to look like, I don't know if anybody knows that right now because we're still unwinding the whole Standard Amusements debacle.' County Executive Ken Jenkins said Wednesday night during an annual 'State of the County' speech that it's his 'intention' to open iconic Playland Park for the 2025 season – but provided no details after the park's former operator walked away from its deal to run the historic landmark in February due to alleged contractual violations by the county. 'Playland is more than just a park, it's a cherished treasure, the crown jewel of Westchester County. A place where memories are made and community thrives,' the Democrat said as he bashed the deal signed by a former administration. Westchester has hosted a job fair in hopes of attracting staff, including lifeguards. That means a pool and beach on the property will be made accessible, but Parker warned, 'The amusement park is another story.' A county spokesperson said Thursday officials 'were still assessing the situation' at the Art Deco park. 'Once we have a clearer timeline and plan for the summer, we'll announce it to the public,' the spokesperson said. The nearly 100-year-old park usually opens up by late May and has only been closed for an entire season once, during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The messy divorce between Standard and county, which officially took effect on Feb. 20, is already going to cost the county big with Jenkins calling on lawmakers earlier this month to approve borrowing up to $36 million in bonds to pay Standard. He said lawmakers should take quick action so the county avoids 18% interest payments that would begin after 90 days from the time of the split, according to a April 17 memo first reported on by The Journal News. The tens of millions of dollars is what Standard invested in the nearly-century-old park and is owed under the deal the two sides had, county attorney John Nonna told The Post. Nonna said if the county is found responsible for the contract falling apart during an arbitration hearing later this year, it would owe Standard between $12 million and $21 million. 'We don't think we're in default,' he said. But the lawyer added the county will attempt to recoup some money during arbitration by insisting the operator failed to maintain the amusement rides. It's not clear how much money that could be. Jenkins and his predecessor, now-US Rep. George Latimer, have long decried the public-private contract signed by former county executive Rob Astorino with Standard. Latimer, when he first took office in 2018, tried to back out of the agreement, leading to a lengthy and costly court fight. Standard Amusements said earlier this year it was dropping Playland, arguing the county didn't live up to a contractual obligation to fund and complete renovations. Jenkins has countered that the county has poured about $150 million into park upgrades in recent years.
New York Post
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Iconic Playland park's opening remains a mystery as taxpayers already on hook for $36M in management flap
It's a mystery when the iconic Playland amusement park will open for the season – but if and when it does it may be with only limited rides and attractions. Westchester County taxpayers are already on the hook to pay as much as $36 million to the park's former management company, Standard Amusements — as government officials had no answers for the county-owned park in 2025 except to say they 'intend' to open it in some form. 'Our intention is to get as much of the park open and accessible to the public as possible,' said county Legislator Catherine Parker, who lives near the waterfront park which was featured in the Tom Hanks movie 'Big.' 5 'Our intention is to get as much of the park open and accessible to the public as possible,' said county Legislator Catherine Parker about Playland amusement park. Matthew McDermott 'I believe we will have at least – I don't know if it's going to be Kiddie Land or what it's going to look like, I don't know if anybody knows that right now because we're still unwinding the whole Standard Amusements debacle.' County Executive Ken Jenkins said Wednesday night during an annual 'State of the County' speech that it's his 'intention' to open iconic Playland Park for the 2025 season – but provided no details after the park's former operator walked away from its deal to run the historic landmark in February due to alleged contractual violations by the county. 'Playland is more than just a park, it's a cherished treasure, the crown jewel of Westchester County. A place where memories are made and community thrives,' the Democrat said as he bashed the deal signed by a former administration. Westchester has hosted a job fair in hopes of attracting staff, including lifeguards. That means a pool and beach on the property will be made accessible, but Parker warned, 'The amusement park is another story.' A county spokesperson said Thursday officials 'were still assessing the situation' at the Art Deco park. 'Once we have a clearer timeline and plan for the summer, we'll announce it to the public,' the spokesperson said. 5 Westchester County taxpayers are paying as much as $36 million to the park's former management company, Standard Amusements, despite the former operator leaving the deal due to alleged contractual violations by the county. Playland Park/Facebook 5 'Once we have a clearer timeline and plan for the summer, we'll announce it to the public,' the spokesperson said. Playland Park/Facebook The nearly 100-year-old park usually opens up by late May and has only been closed for an entire season once, during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The messy divorce between Standard and county, which officially took effect on Feb. 20, is already going to cost the county big with Jenkins calling on lawmakers earlier this month to approve borrowing up to $36 million in bonds to pay Standard. He said lawmakers should take quick action so the county avoids 18% interest payments that would begin after 90 days from the time of the split, according to a April 17 memo first reported on by The Journal News. 5 Nick Singer of Standard Amusement. Stephen Yang 5 The almost 100-year-old park has only been closed for an entire season once, during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Playland Park/Facebook The tens of millions of dollars is what Standard invested in the nearly-century-old park and is owed under the deal the two sides had, county attorney John Nonna told The Post. Nonna said if the county is found responsible for the contract falling apart during an arbitration hearing later this year, it would owe Standard between $12 million and $21 million. 'We don't think we're in default,' he said. But the lawyer added the county will attempt to recoup some money during arbitration by insisting the operator failed to maintain the amusement rides. It's not clear how much money that could be. Jenkins and his predecessor, now-US Rep. George Latimer, have long decried the public-private contract signed by former county executive Rob Astorino with Standard. Latimer, when he first took office in 2018, tried to back out of the agreement, leading to a lengthy and costly court fight. Standard Amusements said earlier this year it was dropping Playland, arguing the county didn't live up to a contractual obligation to fund and complete renovations. Jenkins has countered that the county has poured about $150 million into park upgrades in recent years.
