Big changes coming to Rye Playland

Published on Saturday, 13 October 2012 20:49

Written by Randy Garbin

Preservationists should be concerned about any change in operation at Rye Playland, but the county's budget woes can't be ignored. What would you do?

Water park proposed at historic NY amusement park

RYE, N.Y. (AP) — A beloved but money-losing county-owned amusement park on prime shoreline outside New York City would be refreshed with a small water park, a fieldhouse, ballfields and a "Great Lawn" under a letter of intent signed Thursday.

The plan is to turn over Playland's operations to a private partnership that would invest $34 million in capital improvements, pay Westchester County at least $1.2 million a year and end an annual drain on taxpayers estimated at $3 million to $5 million, said County Executive Robert Astorino.

Some of the park's newer rides would come down to make room for the lawn, gardens and a vista of Long Island Sound. But the 84-year-old park's best-known features — the wooden "Dragon" roller coaster, the old carousel, Kiddyland and a boardwalk featured in the Tom Hanks movie "Big" — would be retained.

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