Rye Playland Set to Open This Weekend

Have some fun today!

That's the new slogan for Rye Playland as the sprawling seaside amusement park gets ready to open its new season this weekend as one of only two government-owned and run amusement parks in America (bonus points if you know the other one to be listed at the end of this story because it is commonly written that Westchester runs the only such park in the U.S.).

Before we get to that, Westchester Deputy Parks Commissioner and veteran Rye Playland Director Dan McBride spoke to Rye Patch about what the new season will bring, from choreographed fireworks to brighter, more fuel efficient lighting to light up the rides at night to –brace yourself –new pricing.
But first a few words about what it takes to get the park ready to open after what McBride calls "the perfect storm and then some" that bathed Playland in $5 million worth of red ink last season.

"I call what happened last season the perfect storm because it was one of the wettest, wildest, coldest summers on record, and that really kept attendance down,' McBride told Patch. "Hopefully this year will be different."
How different? asked Patch.

Well, while McBride can't predict the weather, he can say that the 48 rides are ready to go at more affordable new prices, and the park is still coming around from that "perfect storm and then some" –that "some" referring to the recent wind and rains that damaged the northern end of the Boardwalk and Playland Pier, the roof of the Ice Casino, the bathing pavilion and also washed away about one third of the Playland Beach sand after the Federal Emergency Management Administration had poured around $1 million into sand replacement last year.

But that all goes with the territory with running a park that has been in business since 1928, a park where McBride's father worked running Zamboni ice-grooming machine at the Ice Casino as a second job to help support his family and where Dan and his brother worked as lifeguards at the old  Oakland Beach pool while working their way through college; Dan at Springfield where he took the parks administration courses that helped him work his way up the ladder at various Westchester parks, before making it to the top at Playland several years ago.

So McBride is familiar with the drill that goes with bringing the park out of its winter hibernation by dismantling the rides beginning in February of last year, and doing all the preventative maintenance required to get the rides up and running again safely throughout the season.

He is pleased that the park will have a new, more fuel efficient lighting system with five rotating colors, so Playland will have a more colorful look. The new fireworks display throughout July and August also will be linked to synchronized music.

McBride said the $8.8 million bath house renovation should be completed by season's end, with $4 million of that sum alone going for lead removal.
McBride also thinks that the new pricing policy will prove popular: a $30 "best buy" for unlimited rides subject to height lines with a $5 twilight discount after 6 p.m. and a $5 discount for Westchester residents; a $20 Kiddyland" pass good for unlimited Kiddyland rides subject to height lines (again with a $5 discount for Westchester residents) and a $5 Spectator pass (good for admission to the park –no rides –with a $2 discount for Westchester residents).

There's also an $80 Season Pass (available at the Season Pass Window in the Fountain Plaza) good for unlimited rides for the 2010 season (with a $15 discount for Westchester residents) and a $35 Spectator Season Pass (good for admission into the park for the season –again, no rides –with a $10 Westchester resident discount). There's even a 5-Ride Sampler (valid Tuesday through Friday until 6 p.m.) for $15 for any five rides subject to height lines, and Fun Card Points from 2008 through 2010 are valid for credit --$1 each - toward admission, rides or food. Prior year points are valid for credit toward admission and rides only with rides usually requiring 5 points.

About that proof of Westchester residency, that requires one of the following: credit card with ZIP code verification, New York State issued photo ID or driver's license, a Westchester County Park Pass, school photo ID or report card.

And for admission into the Amusement Park, all guests will need to have a wristband which will be put on by Playland personnel –all parties must be together. And wristbands may not be resold, shared or give to someone else once worn. Violators will be ejected from the park with no refund.

Parking costs: $5 weekdays, $7 weekends, $10 holidays, $1 for senior citizens (Tuesday through Friday with Westchester County Senior ID).

There's more, lots more, that goes into opening a park with a budget of more than $15.3 million, up from about $15 million last year. Playland's $5 million loss last year  is one of the reasons new Westchester County Supervisor Rob Astorino is looking to get out of the amusement park business and turn Playland over to outside Disney World-style management that specializes in running amusement parks, something that hasn't worked at Rye Playland in the past.

And, oh yes, the only other government owned and run amusement park in America is Kennelwood in a suburb of Pittsburgh.

And the moveable feast that is Playland, a National Historic Landmark, will also have a new restaurant this year, the Pier Restaurant and Tiki Bar run by the same management as Seaside Johnnies at the opposite end of the Boardwalk. But even as everything old becomes new again, the most popular ride still remains the Dragon Coaster, one of seven of Playland's original rides dating back to 1928, which includes the Grand Carousel, Derby Racer, Ye Olde Mill, The Whip, Kiddy Coaster and Kiddy Carousel.

There will still be daily entertainment (mid-June to Labor Day) with live musical revues at the Music Tower Theatre with costume characters and strolling entertainers roaming throughout the park that also includes a beach and pool and miniature golf on the boardwalk overlooking Long Island Sound.

Hours: Weekends to Memorial Day--noon to 9 p.m. Saturday and until 8 p.m. Sunday thereafter Memorial Day to late June Wed-Thurs: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sat. noon to midnight and Sunday noon to 10:30 p.m.Further information on the park's schedule : call 914-813-7000, www.RyePlayland.org.