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By: Meyer Wolfsheim
The private company managing Playland Park in Rye is pulling out of its 30-year contract, sparking a legal battle that could delay the historic amusement park’s seasonal opening, The Post has learned.
Standard Amusements, which won the contract in 2016, officially terminated the agreement on Jan. 21, citing Westchester County’s failure to complete critical construction projects outlined in their deal.
“In November, we alerted the county that we were terminating our agreement, based on their complete failure to meet the construction obligations under the contract,” Standard wrote in a letter obtained by The Post.
The company claimed the county admitted it missed contractual deadlines despite being given a full year’s extension to complete renovations.
According to The Journal News, Standard is now seeking $57 million, including $44 million in investments plus interest fees.
The Playland deal was originally brokered by former County Executive Rob Astorino, a Republican. But when Democrat George Latimer took office in 2018, he attempted to scrap the agreement, leading to years of legal fights.
Latimer has since left for Congress, and his replacement, Acting County Executive Ken Jenkins, insists the park will open on time this May. But his opponent in this month’s special election, Republican Christine Sculti, isn’t convinced.
“At this point, Ken Jenkins has been hiding the truth about Playland since November. How can we believe anything he says?” Sculti told The Post.
“Playland survived the Great Depression, World War II, and COVID, but it may not make it past Ken Jenkins’ ineptitude.”
Jenkins has dismissed Standard’s claims, arguing the county has poured nearly $150 million into park improvements while Standard mishandled operations.
“The bottom line is this: Standard Amusements was losing money,” Jenkins told The Post.
“They couldn’t make Playland work, and now they’re trying to blame the county for their failure.”
The county is now preparing for a complex legal battle, arguing that Standard defaulted on the contract and should not receive the tens of millions it is demanding.
Despite Jenkins’ assurances, uncertainty looms over Playland’s future.
“It’s unclear how the county, after squandering months, will be ready to open Playland for the start of the season,” Standard warned in a statement.
The Post has learned that during Standard’s three years in charge, several rides were closed, staffing was inadequate, and management issues plagued the park.
Playland, a National Historic Landmark that opened in 1928, is one of the most recognizable amusement parks in the country. It was famously featured in Tom Hanks’ 1988 movie “Big”, with its boardwalk and fortune-telling machine playing a key role in the film’s climax.
The park has also been at the center of controversial county deals. In 2019, The Post reported that Westchester quietly awarded a contract to Jenkins’ former campaign manager, Joe Montalto, to help secure a new ride—despite Montalto having ties to Central Amusement International, the company that lost the original Playland bid.
Now, with Standard out and legal battles looming, Playland’s future is more uncertain than ever.
Neither Standard Amusements nor Westchester County officials responded to The Post’s request for further comment.
