Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins announced that the County intends to open Playland for the 2025 season, despite ongoing legal challenges with Standard Amusements.
Jenkins Addressed Playland During the Weekly Briefing on Monday, January 27. Click here for Video.
Jenkins said: “We have long said that Playland is the crown jewel of this County. Since 2018, the County has made every effort to ensure this beloved park thrives for future generations and today that commitment continues.”
At this point, the County is in the early stages of what is expected to be a complex legal battle. Jenkins also said that it is untrue that the County had prior knowledge of the termination in November, noting that the County had a conversation with Standard Amusements where they expressed an interest in potentially negotiating a settlement, but nothing came from that conversation.
Jenkins said: “The bottom line is this: Standard Amusements was losing money. They couldn’t make Playland work, and now they are trying to place the blame on the County for their failure – after the County has spent close to $150 million pursuant to the PMA.”
The agreement between the County and Standard Amusements was originally established during the Astorino administration, under a public-private partnership model. This arrangement required the County to reimburse Standard for their investments into Playland and expenses.
Jenkins said: “While the original contract was flawed, we managed to renegotiate it to implement a cap on reimbursements, protecting taxpayers from an even greater financial burden. Despite our efforts, we were ultimately blocked from fully walking away from the deal due to a bankruptcy court ruling that sided with Standard Amusements.”
The County has invested $150 million dollars to upgrade and restore Playland, while Standard Amusements has repeatedly neglected its responsibilities and mismanaged the Park.
Standard Amusements’ poor performance is evident through the following failures:
• Inadequate Ride Operation: Numerous rides were closed throughout the seasons, a violation of industry standards.
• Insufficient Maintenance Staff: The lack of adequate staffing affected both daily operations and preventative maintenance.
• Unresolved Maintenance Issues: Several repairs identified in the October 2024 safety audit remain unfinished.
• Withholding Money from County: Standard Amusements is withholding money from the County citing delays in project completion. Despite the County providing proof that all projects, including the Switchgear, were completed.
