Playland Attendance Up Over 2018

RYE, NY — Attendance at Westchester County's Rye Playland amusement park was up for 2019 over attendance from the three prior years. County Executive George Latimer thanked the park's patrons for the increase.

"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.

"We rolled out the welcome mat and you responded," Latimer said. "I look forward to next spring 2020 to do it all over again."

The attendance figures were for the amusement park only. County officials said attendance for the beach, pool, restaurant, Ice Casino, museum and the Edith G. Read Wildlife Sanctuary were not included in the total.

Some of the park's initiatives for the 2019 season included:

• Opening of The Dragonator, the first new ride installed in more than a decade.
• Town Days, in which each of the county's 43 municipalities was celebrated with a day of special discounts.
• An all-new Coaster the Dragon mascot.
• Concerts on the Music Tower Stage.
• An extended September weekend season.

Latimer said the county has turned the corner in the park after years of steady decline.

"But we have a long way to go to get where we want to be," he said. "This county administration believes in Playland's potential, and we'll be working in the off-season to improve and expand our product."

Standard Amusements, which was given a 30-year agreement to take over management of the county-owned park in 2016 under the administration of then-county executive Robert Astorino, filed for bankruptcy in May.

Latimer's administration terminated the contract when he took office, saying Standard was in breach of the contract and had improperly claimed it had invested money in the park.

In August, a court ruled that the contract between the county and Standard would remain in effect while the bankruptcy case continues.

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