Belleville Group Submits Proposal to Run Legendary Amusement Park

Westchester County, NY  Executive Robert P. Astorino's called for proposals from suitable bidders to “reinvent Playland for the 21st century,” and they came.

A dozen of them.

The State Fair Group of Belleville (http://stfair.com/), which manages the largest fair in the New York metropolitan area, the State Fair Meadowlands, is one of 12 bidders that have submitted a proposal to the County of Westchester to reinvent Playland Amusement Park, which is located in Rye.

Playland Amusement Park has endured financial losses in excess of $3 million each year for the past decade, and State Fair Group’s plan is to reverse that by being business-like in managing the Park by delivering a superior quality experience to the visitor, culminating in Playland being a family oriented, high quality amusement and event park, the firm said in a statement.
 
State Fair Group President Al Dorso says, “Even though the broader economy is still recovering, running a successful and thriving amusement venue is very simple. Detailed planning that is methodically implemented results in positive park visitor experiences. This operational model is an absolute necessity to sustain long‐term financial viability in today’s competitive entertainment marketplace. Our thinking is to focus on ‘righting the Playland ship’, eliminating annual losses in the short term and creating a clear path to long‐term sustainability, while leveraging the rich history of Playland, and implementing more innovative ideas over time.”

Peter Tartaglia, from Westchester County’s Department of Marketing and Public Relations, says the county is weighing all 12 proposals, which were received on the same day. “Five ‘Es” are being looked at,” he said:

Economics – Does the proposal offer a financially viable long-term business model? While the county does not expect to make a profit at the park, the current fiscal situation cannot continue.

Environment – Is the proposal appropriate to local surroundings, area zoning and the environment?

Entertainment – Is the proposal consistent with the purpose of a park?

Experience – Can the county feel confident about the proposer’s track record with respect to finances, customer service, safety and deadlines?

Expectations – Is the proposal realistic?

“It’s a four-phase process,” continued Tartaglia, “and it looks like we’ll have direction by the end of November. We’re methodically doing this.”

Should Playland Amusement Park, which has been a prime attraction in Westchester County since 1928, accept the State Fair Group proposal, they will turn their reins over to a group with substantial experience in turning around venues. State Fair Meadowlands profitability was a major concern when the group took over back in 2003, and since then the Fair, which includes over 150 rides and attractions over 35 acres and runs from end of June and into early July and attracts almost a half million visitors, has become a very popular family and friend attraction.

“We plan the entire year,” said Dorso of State Fair Meadowlands, “construct the entire venue within a 10‐day period, operate for 2 1⁄2 weeks, and then spend two days taking it all down – leaving the fairgrounds in the neat condition we found it. Operating a seasonal park such as Playland in Westchester County would be a piece of cake for the State Fair Group team. Rye Playland is a Westchester, New York treasure with a long history. It requires experience, creativity and a fresh energy to become economically viable in the long term. Playland is an ideal location where local families can enjoy the amusements in a safe, clean and meticulously maintained environment.”