By: Rob Otto

The future of the iconic Playland Amusement Park in Rye, New York remains murky as officials scramble to open at least part of the beloved destination — while Westchester taxpayers face a staggering $36 million bill, the NY Post reported.

Despite bold promises from local officials, there’s still no clear timeline for when the nearly 100-year-old park will reopen, or even which rides and attractions will be available, the NY Post reported. County leaders maintain they “intend” to make some portion of the park accessible this summer, though specifics remain frustratingly vague.

“Our intention is to get as much of the park open and accessible to the public as possible,” County Legislator Catherine Parker said, according to the NY Post. Parker, who lives near the waterfront park made famous in Tom Hanks’ film “Big,” admitted she wasn’t sure if even Kiddie Land would operate this season, blaming the ongoing turmoil from the fallout with former operator Standard Amusements.

During his “State of the County” address this week, County Executive Ken Jenkins echoed those sentiments, saying he intends to open Playland in 2025 — but offered no firm plans, the NY Post reported. The uncertainty follows Standard Amusements’ decision to walk away from its management deal with the county in February, citing alleged breaches of contract.

“Playland is more than just a park — it’s a cherished treasure, the crown jewel of Westchester County,” Jenkins said, while criticizing the deal inked by a previous administration, according to the NY Post.

Westchester is now on the hook to pay Standard up to $36 million for its investments in Playland, a cost that Jenkins urged lawmakers to cover quickly to avoid steep 18% interest penalties, the NY Post reported. Lawmakers are being asked to approve borrowing millions in bonds to pay the settlement.

Meanwhile, officials said the park’s pools and beaches should open this summer, thanks to a staff hiring push, but warned that the amusement park rides themselves are another story. A county spokesperson told the NY Post that they were “still assessing the situation” and would announce a summer plan once it’s finalized.

The nearly century-old park traditionally opens by late May and has only missed a full season once — during the COVID-19 shutdown in 2020, the NY Post reported.

The messy breakup between Westchester and Standard stems from longstanding tensions. When former County Executive George Latimer first took office in 2018, he tried to scrap the controversial public-private partnership established by his predecessor, Rob Astorino, leading to prolonged legal battles, as the NY Post detailed.

Standard Amusements ultimately pulled out earlier this year, arguing the county failed to uphold renovation funding obligations. In response, Jenkins pointed to the $150 million Westchester claims it invested in upgrades to Playland, the NY Post reported.

County attorney John Nonna told the NY Post that if arbitration later this year finds Westchester at fault for breaching the agreement, taxpayers could owe Standard between $12 million and $21 million — though he insisted the county does not believe it defaulted on the deal. Nonna added that officials plan to argue that Standard failed to maintain the amusement rides, potentially lowering any damages owed.

As the summer season fast approaches, Westchester residents are left wondering whether they’ll get to enjoy even a fraction of the park’s magic this year.