2019 attendance better than 2016-18
After years of steadily declining attendance, Playland is on the up and up – completing a strong 2019 year that surpassed attendance for the prior three years, 2018, 2017 and 2016.
The park introduced an energized new mascot this summer and opened the first new ride in more than a decade – along with initiating “Art on the Beach,” town days, daily entertainment, musical acts, a fall festival, and promotional days including teacher appreciation day with free passes for educators.
“This season’s strong amusement park attendance, topping over a half a million visitors – besting results for the prior three years – clearly demonstrates that our beautiful amusement park is once again a great destination for everyone,” said County Executive George Latimer. “The park’s attendees range from fans of thrill rides to those who prefer to stroll the park, take a quiet walk on our boardwalk along Long Island Sound, or enjoy the many other assets of this very special gem of a park. I want to thank the staff at the park for all they do because every time I visited this summer – which was often – the place was always clean, safe and, most of all, magical.”
Some of the initiatives this year included opening of The Dragonator, the first new ride installed in the park in 11 years. The ride, which opened July 29, was named in a contest in which more than 400 submissions were received from the public and a group of Westchester day camp children chose the winning name.
Town Days, in which each of Westchester’s 43 municipalities was celebrated with a day of special discounts; and a new Coaster the Dragon mascot, re-imagined for the 21st century, who could be found at various locations throughout Westchester and everywhere on social media, were also debuted this year.
There was also a great lineup of concerts on the Music Tower Stage featuring up-and-coming artists, local acts and tribute bands; all-new daily entertainment for children in the park’s Kiddyland section; an interactive art exhibit titled “The Floating Forest – Art on the Beach” presented in conjunction with ArtsWestchester; an extended September weekend season; and increased social media presence for the park and a new vibrant website, along with a live stream camera that offers a birds-eye view of the park’s midway.
Playland’s patrons were also able to take advantage of several money-saving specials all summer long, including $20 nights every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, and free admission for moms on Mother’s Day and dads on Father’s Day, first responders on First Responders Day, teachers and members of the media and other groups on several special holidays and observances. Visitors also enjoyed longtime favorites including Friday night fireworks and Big-Band Era dancing on the boardwalk.
Latimer thanked Playland’s patrons for helping to make the park great this summer and for their business over the years.
“We were reaching for the half-million attendance mark and we got there and, in fact, beat that number for a total of 508,413, compared to just over 460,000 in 2018,” he said. “I want to thank Westchester residents and the many visitors from out of the region who enjoyed the park this year. We rolled out the welcome mat and you responded. I look forward to next spring 2020 to do it all over again.
“We’ve turned the corner after years of steady decline, but we have a long way to go to get where we want to be. This county administration believes in Playland’s potential, and we’ll be working in the off-season to improve and expand our product.”
