County Students Get Season Pass for Great Grades
Visitors to Playland Park in Rye will once again enjoy magnificent views of Long Island Sound from the 700-foot-long North Boardwalk, now that a capital replacement project has been completed, announced Westchester County Executive George Latimer during a recent ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Latimer was joined by County Parks Commissioner Kathy O’Connor, Commissioner of the Department of Public Works Hugh Greechan, and Deputy Parks Commissioner Peter Tartaglia, to officially open the Boardwalk.
“I am pleased to welcome Westchester residents back to this very special section of Playland Park, which had been closed after Superstorm Sandy demolished the existing boardwalk in 2012,” said Latimer. “It’s been a long time coming, but the way this new boardwalk is built, it will be here for a very, very long time to come.”
Playland’s shoreline sustained grave damage during Superstorm Sandy on Oct. 29, 2012, with winds and tidal surges greatly damaging the south boardwalk, and completely demolishing and washing away the north boardwalk.
The replaced boardwalk is built with 500-year storm-resistant materials. The boardwalk has been upgraded with steel piles replacing the former wooden ones, and a concrete substructure and platform to further stand up to the elements. Like the park’s south boardwalk, which was repaired and re-opened in 2013, the new boardwalk’s decking is made of Brazilian hardwood known as Ipe, which can last more than 30 years without warping and splintering.
New wrought-iron fencing on both the water’s edge and the park side of the walkway has been installed, along with brand new, historically correct benches and lighting to comport with the park’s Art Deco architecture.
The completion of the north boardwalk reconstitutes Playland’s scenic Seaside Walk that runs along Long Island Sound and affords beautiful vistas. It is a 3/4-mile path that starts at the south boardwalk and ends at the north boardwalk near Playland Lake.
The cost of the project was $4.6 million for design and construction.
“The opening of Playland Park in Rye signifies the end of a drawn-out and difficult chapter and the beginning of a bright new one,” said U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer. “In November 2012, I toured the damage that was left in the wake of Hurricane Sandy and vowed to bring FEMA funding to Playland Park and all of Westchester County. I’m overjoyed knowing that today is the day my efforts, combined with countless others, finally comes to fruition. Congratulations to Westchester County and specifically all Hudson Valley children – both young and old – on this joyous occasion right in the time for summer.”
Congresswoman Nita Lowey added: “As ranking member on the House Appropriations Committee, I’m pleased to have helped secure federal funding for this replacement boardwalk in Playland Park, which will be better-suited to withstand future storms. I will continue working to bring these essential resources to the lower Hudson Valley.”
More than 120 middle- and high-school students from Westchester recently received their summer pass to enjoy Playland thanks to their hard work and academic achievements.
Proving that hard work pays off, Latimer presented certificates of achievement to students at Playland in honor of the “Do Well, Play Well” program, which is spearheaded by the Westchester County Youth Bureau, recognizes students who have attained high academic performance, excellent attendance or initiated significant improvements in their school community during the 2017-18 academic year. More than 120 youth achieved the criterion for the program – which includes a grade-point average of at least 3.5, perfect attendance, and a recommendation from a principal or guidance counselor indicating that the student overcame a significant barrier – and received a free season pass to Playland.
“These students have proven that they are dedicated to earning high achievement in the classroom, and they deserve to be commended for that,” said Latimer. “The Do Well, Play Well program simply serves as a little extra motivation to let our students know that we are behind them, and that by doing well in school, they will be exposed to a lifetime of opportunities.”
Executive Director of the Westchester County Youth Bureau Dr. DaMia Harris-Madden added: “The Do Well, Play Well initiative confirms that small gestures, such as the offering of a free season pass to Playland, may have greater impact on youth morale and agency. By encouraging young people to perform well academically and socially, Westchester County will benefit from the future generation of motivated and scholastically sound leaders.”
The free season pass to Playland includes free admission to the park and unlimited rides. To participate in the Do Well, Play Well program next year, students must submit evidence of their performance during 2018-19 school year to the Westchester County Youth Bureau electronically at dowellplaywell@westchestergov.com. More information is available at playlandpark.org.
