Rye Hot Topics

Everyone surely has an opinion about every topic, especially when the issue is of local or national concern. Recently, Rye Playland, one of the few government-owned amusement parks in the U.S., opened with new pricing and features for the 2010 season. But will it be enough to attract customers and stave off future operating losses for the park? We hit the streets of Rye to interview residents about how they feel about the new Rye Playland.

Jasmin Telfer, Rye

Asked about the 2010 prices at Playland, Rye resident Jasmin Telfer said they would attract more customers and add more value to the amusement park experience.

"You get a lot more for what you pay for," Telfer said.

Telfer said that she would utilize the amusement park more often because of the $30 price for unlimited rides for adults and $20 for unlimited rides for kids in the Kiddyland portion of the park.

"I'll probably come back a lot more," she said.

Marco Mattia, Rye

Mattia said he impressed with Playland's reasonable prices.

"I'm really surprised with how cheap the season pass was," he said.

Tim Young, Rye

Other Rye residents, such as Tim Young,  are fans of the old system and not the new additions.

"I don't like the part that you have to buy the bands at the front of the park," Young said of the wrist bands that customers must purchase to get on rides.

Young preferred the old method of two years ago when customers only had to pay $15 to go on any five rides and not purchase any wristbands at the front entrance.

He also mentioned that it depends on how many children one has. With a three and four year-old, a season pass is better.

Rye Playland did not sell $80 season passes last year as park goers only received a card and a wrist band to gain entry into the park. The park also didn't have a $20 fee for unlimited rides for a child in Kiddyland.

Cathy Telfer, Rye

Rye Playland offers options for people like Cathy Telfer, who want admission into the park but don't want to go on any rides.

"I'm just a spectator," Telfer said.

Gigi Flynn and Lexie Brunner, Rye

"It's more attractive because it's less money," said Gigi Flynn and Lexie Brunner of Rye. Flynn and Brunner are very fond of the park "We really like it," they said. 

The two are students in the Rye School District so they receive discounts at the Park by displaying their student identification. 

"Our favorite ride is the Superman and the Playland Plunger," they said.

When asked if the County of Westchester would be better off selling the park amid continued operating loss, both said no.  

"It's just a part of our town and people go there," they said.

Max French, Rye ( son of Rye Mayor Doug French)

"They're better," French said about Playland's new offerings. French said that according to his father, Rye Mayor Doug French, the park raked in $40,000 on Saturday. French said that the same amount of people are utilizing the park's features but spending more money at the park, therefore bringing  in more revenue. 

"They're getting the same amount of people but more money," he said. 

Dustin Incle, Rye Country Day School Student 

"It's better and more affordable," Incle said. Incle feels the prices are cheaper and more rides are able to be taken advantage of.

Incle said that he will probably visit the park  as often as he has in previous summers, which would be only two or three times.

Tara Matthews, Rye

"I wish they would go back to the old days," Matthews said. 

Matthews, who lives near the park, recalled the days when people purchased tickets and went on one or two rides. Matthews also walks on the park's Boardwalk at no charge and does not see the use in paying more money just to go on one or two rides, especially since Rye Playland is not a commercial amusement park but more of a historical entity.