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Rye Playland

Politics
$385.15M 2025 Capital Budget Proposed In Westchester: Here's Where Funding Will Go $385.15M 2025 Capital Budget Proposed In Westchester: Here's Where Funding Will Go
$385.15M 2025 Capital Budget Proposed In Westchester: Here's Where Funding Will Go Westchester County Executive George Latimer has released the details of his proposed 2025 Capital Budget, which requests over $385 million in new appropriations.  The proposed budget, announced by Latimer on Tuesday, Oct. 15, includes $385.15 million in investments in affordable housing, roads and bridges, sewer and water systems, flood mitigation, electric vehicle infrastructure, and parks and recreation.  According to Latimer, the budget reflects the work his administration has done to "strengthen public services and modernize infrastructure across Westchester County."  "T…

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by Ben Crnic
News
5-Year-Old Dies After Incident At Rye Playland Pool 5-Year-Old Dies After Incident At Rye Playland Pool
5-Year-Old Dies After Incident At Rye Playland Pool A young boy has died following an incident at a pool at a busy Westchester amusement park.  The 5-year-old child's death, which followed an incident on Thursday, Aug. 1, was detailed in a statement by a Rye Playland spokesperson on Sunday, Aug. 11.  On the day of the incident, around 2:20 p.m., a possible drowning was reported at Playland Park, according to Westchester County Police Public Information Officer Kieran O'Leary.  Earlier Report - 5-Year-Old Goes Into Cardiac Arrest While In Pool At Rye Playland Arriving police and park rangers found tha…

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by Ben Crnic
Lifestyle
Spec-Quack-ular: 'World's Largest Rubber Duck' Coming To Rye Playland Spec-Quack-ular: 'World's Largest Rubber Duck' Coming To Rye Playland
Spec-Quack-ular: 'World's Largest Rubber Duck' Coming To Rye Playland A unique, six-story-tall attraction made of rubber will soon be coming to the shores of Westchester.  "The World's Largest Rubber Duck" will arrive in Rye Playland on Friday, Aug. 16, and stay through Sunday, Aug. 18, serving as the centerpiece of the park's "Second Annual Duck Days of Summer" celebration.  The 61-foot-tall duck, which aims to bring "love and joy to the globe," according to its website, will be accompanied by her 10-foot-high "baby ducking," Timmy.  The immense, 15.5-ton spectacle visits locations from California to Canada, attracting massive audiences along…

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by Ben Crnic
Lifestyle
Iconic Ride At Rye Playland To Celebrate 95th Anniversary Iconic Ride At Rye Playland To Celebrate 95th Anniversary
Iconic Ride At Rye Playland To Celebrate 95th Anniversary A popular Westchester amusement park is planning on celebrating the 95th anniversary of its iconic roller coaster with two weekends of fun activities and events.  The Dragon Coaster at Rye Playland, which opened in 1929, will celebrate its birthday weekend on Saturday, July 20, and Sunday, July 21, the park announced. Designed by Frederick A. Church, the wooden ride measures 80 feet high and has around 3,400 feet of track. It is the only one of Church's rides that remains operational on the East Coast and is one of 48 coasters recognized as an ACE Roller Coaster Landmark by Americ…

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by Ben Crnic
News
Osprey Nest Causes Closure At Popular Rye Playland Ride Osprey Nest Causes Closure At Popular Rye Playland Ride
Osprey Nest Causes Closure At Popular Rye Playland Ride A major ride at a popular Westchester amusement park is temporarily shut down thanks to some avian visitors who decided it was a perfect site to build their home.  The Gondola Wheel at Rye Playland is temporarily closed because of an active Osprey nest built on the ride, the park announced on Thursday, May 16.  The park, which opened for the season on Saturday, May 18, said the wheel would be closed "until further notice" to protect the Ospreys who have called it home. Park officials also said they would continue to share updates with guests. View this post on…

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by Ben Crnic
News
Iconic Rides, Facilities At Rye Playland Get Upgrades, Restoration Iconic Rides, Facilities At Rye Playland Get Upgrades, Restoration
Iconic Rides, Facilities At Rye Playland Get Upgrades, Restoration A beloved Westchester amusement park is being transformed by an extensive revamping project that is already seeing results.  In an announcement on Friday, Feb. 23, Westchester County officials detailed improvements completed at Rye Playland as part of a $130 million capital program that is still underway.  The program was initiated in 2020 when county officials recognized a need to improve the park, which was founded in 1928 and is one of only two amusement parks in the country with National Historic Landmark status.  So far, restoration efforts at the Grand Carousel and Der…

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by Ben Crnic
News
Scare At Rye Playland: Ride Spins Backwards Scare At Rye Playland: Ride Spins Backwards
Scare At Rye Playland: Ride Spins Backwards Guests at a popular amusement park in the Hudson Valley got an unexpected scare when a ride wouldn't stop spinning. It happened this week in Westchester at Rye Playland, according to a report by ABC New York. The Music Express ride, which was carrying children and adults, spun backwards for as long as 10 minutes on Sunday, July 23, according to video obtained by Eyewitness News. The report said an emergency stop attempt was unsuccessful before power was disconnected. No injuries were reported. The ride has been out of service since. Click here to read the ABC 7 report.

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Say Cheers: Westchester Wine & Food Festival In Full Swing Say Cheers: Westchester Wine & Food Festival In Full Swing
Say Cheers: Westchester Wine & Food Festival In Full Swing Say cheers! The Westchester Wine & Food Festival is in full swing, with crowds of guests flocking to the event to sample local restaurants' food and drinks. The 11th annual festival, held by Westchester Magazine, is taking place through Saturday, June 11. Find the full list of restaurants participating here. More than 1,000 guests attended the festival's "Party on the Pier at Rye Playland" on Wednesday, June 8, representatives announced.  A "bartender shake-off" was held at the event, with Frankie Rodriguez winning the competition. Rodriguez serves cocktails at White Plains eater…

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by Nicole Valinote
News
COVID-19: Playland Park, County Pools In Westchester Set Opening Dates; Latest Rundown Of Cases COVID-19: Playland Park, County Pools In Westchester Set Opening Dates; Latest Rundown Of Cases
Covid-19: Playland Park, County Pools In Westchester Set Opening Dates; Latest Rundown Of Cases Westchester's pools and amusement parks will be open this summer as the county continues combating the spread of COVID-19.  County Executive George Latimer announced during a COVID-19 briefing on Monday, April 19 that Rye Playland, Playland Beach, and the county's pools have opening dates scheduled and should remain open during the duration of the summer. According to Latimer, planned openings include:  Beach openings at Playland and Croton Point Park will be opened beginning on Memorial Day through Tuesday, June 25; Playland Beach will be open seven days a week from June 25 thr…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Rye Playland Will Stay Closed For Rest Of 2020 Season COVID-19: Rye Playland Will Stay Closed For Rest Of 2020 Season
Covid-19: Rye Playland Will Stay Closed For Rest Of 2020 Season The gates at Rye Playland will stay closed for the rest of the 2020 season due to the ongoing health concerns regarding the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Officials in Westchester announced the amusement park will stay closed for the rest of the season due to the virus after spending months looking for ways to safely reopen amid the pandemic. Ideas to safely reopen Playland included sanitizing rides in between each rider while maintaining social distancing and wearing face coverings. It was originally scheduled to reopen in May before the pandemic struck. Playland Beach will remain…

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by Zak Failla
News
21-Year-Old Dead After Apparent Accidental Drowning In Rye 21-Year-Old Dead After Apparent Accidental Drowning In Rye
21-Year-Old Dead After Apparent Accidental Drowning In Rye A 21-year-old man died after what authorities say appears to be an accidental drowning. The man, whose identity has not yet been released, was found around 7:15 p.m. Friday, June 12 in Westchester near Rye Playland and the Edith Read Sanctuary. EMS personnel performed CPR on the man at the scene. He was pronounced dead at Greenwich Hospital. Signs posted in the area say that swimming, fishing and kayaking are not permitted. Check back to Daily Voice for updates.

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by Daily Voice
Business
Standard Amusement, Former Planned Playland Operator, Files For Bankruptcy Standard Amusement, Former Planned Playland Operator, Files For Bankruptcy
Standard Amusement, Former Planned Playland Operator, Files For Bankruptcy The company that would have taken over control of Rye Playland filed for bankruptcy on the same day Westchester County terminated the contract for Standard Amusements to run the park. Standard Amusements filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy this week, weeks after Westchester County Executive George Latimer announced that he was ending their deal, which was the company’s largest source of revenue. Latimer announced in April that the county will be terminating the contract with Standard because it “did not engage in the ongoing process to resolve its breaches of the Playland Agreement.” In its …

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by Zak Failla
Politics
Latimer Doubles Down On Westchester's Canceled Playland Contract With Standard Amusement Latimer Doubles Down On Westchester's Canceled Playland Contract With Standard Amusement
Latimer Doubles Down On Westchester's Canceled Playland Contract With Standard Amusement The roller-coaster ride Westchester County Executive George Latimer has been on with Standard Amusement over the management of Rye Playland may have reached its end. Latimer had announced that the county will be terminating the contract with Standard because it “did not engage in the ongoing process to resolve its breaches of the Playland Agreement.” Now, he's doubling down on his stance. “We outlined in detail over a year ago the basic problems we had with the original deal, and more recently, the failures of Standard to honor its commitments in the manager's investment,” he stated on Tu…

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
Here's Playland Schedule For Each 'Town Day' This Summer Here's Playland Schedule For Each 'Town Day' This Summer
Here's Playland Schedule For Each 'Town Day' This Summer Summer is nearly here, and Rye Playland will be celebrating each of Westchester’s towns, cities and villages. “Focused on building community and celebrating the unique towns, cities and villages of Westchester County this summer, the County will be featuring ‘Town Days,’ " county officials stated. “From A to Z, Playland will celebrate each town, village and city with their own Town Day.” With proof of ID, on the Town Day, residents will receive discounted coupons at the park by going to the Fountain Plaza Administration Building. Discounts include a free mini golf game, two-for-one ride adm…

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
Here's What's New As Playland Starts Season Here's What's New As Playland Starts Season
Here's What's New As Playland Starts Season The unofficial start of summer is here, as Rye Playland's opening weekend is now here. Playland officially opens for the season at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 11, with a parade featuring a marching band, local officials, staff, and Coaster the Dragon, the amusement park’s official mascot. Opening Day will feature a special $20 admission price, which will allow patrons unlimited rides. There will also be discounted prices on Sunday for Mother’s Day. This year, the annual concert series will include nearly a dozen new local musical acts, as well as a public art display. The park will …

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by Zak Failla
Politics
Latimer Calls For Property Tax Freeze In State Of County Speech Latimer Calls For Property Tax Freeze In State Of County Speech
Latimer Calls For Property Tax Freeze In State Of County Speech Westchester County Executive George Latimer took a look back at his administration’s accomplishments the last year and promised to stabilize the county’s finances in his second State of the County address delivered at the Legislative Chambers of the Board of Legislators. Latimer touched on a myriad of topics, including Rye Playland, the County Airport, bridge strikes and expansion of the Police Advisory Board from five to nine members in the speech on Thursday night, April 11. The budget includes a 2 percent tax increase, which is under the state tax cap, and he announced that he …

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by Zak Failla
News
State Lends Support To Save Historic Carousel At Rye Playland State Lends Support To Save Historic Carousel At Rye Playland
State Lends Support To Save Historic Carousel At Rye Playland The hand-carved horses at the historic carousel at Rye Playland will ride again. Two years ago, a fire broke out at the 102-year-old carousel, leaving the structure and horses with heavy damage, putting the future of the famous ride into question. The carousel suffered water damage, as well as damage to the roof and other components; however, officials have been hopeful of reopening the ride by 2020. The fire was reportedly caused by an electrical issue. That process may be expedited, after Playland received a $450,000 from the state to repair the structure of the carousel. Insurance has c…

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
Here's Where, When You Can See Fireworks In Westchester Here's Where, When You Can See Fireworks In Westchester
Here's Where, When You Can See Fireworks In Westchester This story has been updated. There are more than a dozen fireworks displays to check out throughout Westchester:  Monday, July 2 Scarsdale's Firework Spectacular begins about 9:15 p.m. on July 2 at the Scarsdale Pool Complex. Westchester Band will perform at 7:30 p.m. A $2 fee is charged to all non-pool members entering at 5 p.m. After 8 p.m., everyone entering the pool complex will be charged $2. Tuesday, July 3 Valhalla: Kensico Dam Music Fest and Fireworks. Enjoy a picnic at the park with pre-concert entertainment starting at 6 p.m. A band performance starts at 8 p.m. followed by fire…

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by Jon Craig