Tag:

Standard Amusements

Rye, NY
News
Westchester Gets Full Control Of Playland: Panel Rules Standard Amusements Defaulted Westchester Gets Full Control Of Playland: Panel Rules Standard Amusements Defaulted
Westchester Gets Full Control Of Playland: Panel Rules Standard Amusements Defaulted Westchester County has won a legal victory in its long-running dispute with Standard Amusements, the private company that walked away from managing Playland Park earlier this year.  An arbitration panel ruled on Wednesday, Sept. 10, that Standard Amusements defaulted by refusing to operate Playland for the 2025 season and formally handing management back to the County in February, county officials announced on Monday, Sept. 15.  The decision affirms the county’s termination of its contract with Standard and awards the company only the minimum damages allowed under the Playland Man…

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by Ben Crnic
Rye, NY
News
Playland To Open For 2025 Season: Here's When Playland To Open For 2025 Season: Here's When
Playland To Open For 2025 Season: Here's When Following an emergency order to fast-track critical ride inspections and repairs at Playland, Westchester County officials have confirmed that the amusement park will open in summer 2025.  In a press conference held on Wednesday, May 7, Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins said the beloved park, located in Rye, would open Memorial Day Weekend with free admission.  The specific rides that will be open for that time are not yet confirmed, as it depends on whether the New York State Department of Labor okays their opening as the county works with Zamperla, Inc. to repai…

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by Ben Crnic
Rye, NY
News
Emergency Order Issued To Fast-Track Rye Playland Repairs Emergency Order Issued To Fast-Track Rye Playland Repairs
Emergency Order Issued To Fast-Track Rye Playland Repairs Westchester County has issued an emergency order to fast-track critical ride inspections and repairs at Playland Amusement Park, following the departure of former operator Standard Amusements, officials announced.  The emergency declaration, signed by Westchester Parks Commissioner Kathy O’Connor, allows the County to bypass competitive bidding and immediately hire Zamperla, Inc., an Italian-based global amusement ride manufacturer, to inspect, repair, and maintain multiple rides left disassembled, unwinterized, or without necessary spare parts, the county announced on Thursday, May 1.&…

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by Ben Crnic
Rye, NY
News
Playland Conflict: 'Radical Ideology' Blamed For Troubled Original Deal By Westchester Official Playland Conflict: 'Radical Ideology' Blamed For Troubled Original Deal By Westchester Official
Playland Conflict: 'Radical Ideology' Blamed For Troubled Original Deal By Westchester Official The bitter legal and political battle over Playland Amusement Park has deepened, with a Westchester official blasting a former County Executive candidate over her role in the park’s troubled private management deal.  In a statement issued Tuesday, April 29, Westchester County Communications Director Catherine Cioffi called the state Playland was left in under Standard Amusements' operation “absolutely heartbreaking” and directly blamed it on a "sweetheart deal" that former County Executive candidate Christine Sculti helped broker when she worked for former County Executive Rob Astorino…

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by Ben Crnic
Rye, NY
News
Rye's Playland To Open Despite Legal Battles With Operator, County Officials Say Rye's Playland To Open Despite Legal Battles With Operator, County Officials Say
Rye's Playland To Open Despite Legal Battles With Operator, County Officials Say Westchester County officials are moving forward with plans to open Playland Amusement Park for the 2025 season, despite an ongoing legal dispute with operator Standard Amusements, County Executive Ken Jenkins announced. Jenkins addressed the issue during a Monday, Jan. 27 briefing, emphasizing the County’s commitment to keeping the historic Rye amusement park open. "We have long said that Playland is the crown jewel of this County," Jenkins said, adding, "Since 2018, the County has made every effort to ensure this beloved park thrives for future generations and today that commitment continu…

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by Ben Crnic
DV Plus - Westchester, NY
Politics
Attendance At Playland Amusement Park On The Rise Once Again Attendance At Playland Amusement Park On The Rise Once Again
Attendance At Playland Amusement Park On The Rise Once Again After a rollercoaster of a decade, attendance at the county-owned Playland Amusement Park was up this summer by more than 10 percent over the 2018 season, according to Westchester officials. The good news coincides with the county cancelling its contract with Standard Amusements, which hoped to take over management of the park in Rye. Playland's 2019 attendance was 508,413, compared with 460,160 in 2018. In contrast, more than 1 million people visited Playland Amusement Park, its pool and beachfront in Rye during the 1999 summer season. The last year that attendance was so strong was in 20…

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by Jon Craig
Rye, NY
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
DV Plus - Westchester, NY
Politics
Latimer: Private Playland Management Contract Took County Taxpayers On A Costly Ride Latimer: Private Playland Management Contract Took County Taxpayers On A Costly Ride
Latimer: Private Playland Management Contract Took County Taxpayers On A Costly Ride It's been a bumpy decade for Playland Amusement Park in Rye. But for now, the county-owned Playland Amusement Park will continue to be operated by public employees.  This week, Westchester County Executive George Latimer of Rye announced an end to a 30-year contract that was negotiated with Standard Amusements during Rob Astorino's tenure as county executive. While the private management ride may be over at Playland for Standard Amusements, the company vowed a costly court challenge may just be starting. The management company said it has  spent more than $10 million to "restorin…

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by Jon Craig
Rye, NY
News
County Investigation Of Playland Management Contract IDs Multiple Problems County Investigation Of Playland Management Contract IDs Multiple Problems
County Investigation Of Playland Management Contract IDs Multiple Problems This story has been updated with a video link: An investigation of a private contract to manage Playland Amusement Park in Rye has a multitude of conflicts and costly problems, Westchester County officials announced on Monday, May 7 Click here to watch a video of Monday's news conference in White Plains. On the heels of public concern, and members of the Westchester County Board of Legislators calling on the county to revisit the Playland deal with Standard Amusements, Westchester County Executive George Latimer asked Director of Operations Joan McDonald and County Attorney John Nonna to e…

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by Jon Craig
Rye, NY
Lifestyle
Playland Management Deal Under New Review By Westchester County Legislators Playland Management Deal Under New Review By Westchester County Legislators
Playland Management Deal Under New Review By Westchester County Legislators Playland's modernization -- a priority project of former Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino -- is now back under the microscope of the county Board of Legislators, which previously challenged the management contract with Standard Amusements. The historic, county-owned park in Rye has been managed by Harrison native Nicholas Singer, founder of Standard Amusements, for the past year. He was not immediately available for comment. The contract between the county and Standard Amusements was signed in 2016 by Astorino. New County Executive George Latimer of Rye has said that his administra…

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by Jon Craig