PLAYLAND - George Latimer & BOL: Get Us OUTTA This Deal!

In January 2019 reports surfaced that the County has put Standard Amusements on notice over the contract to manage Playland (which has not taken effect yet but is due to in late 2019). There appears to be a controversy brewing between them and the County. There are better ways for the County to move forward with Playland and this contract with this company is not the answer.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?
1) Contact your County Legislators and the County Executive’s office to let them know you want them to get the taxpayers out of this horrible deal ASAP and continue to move forward with the needed fixes to the Park that are in limbo while this drags on. Demand that they work to initiate a long-term plan for better stewardship of the Park to firmly establish its future success. I actually recommend sending your communication to ALL the County Legislators at the same time. If you are a County resident, please make sure you mention that and include your address and reference which one Legislator represents you. You could also direct it specifically to the County Executive and your Legislator and then "cc" the rest of the folks on the list. See below for sample email you can use with a compiled list of email addresses you can copy and paste.

Dear County Executive Latimer and Westchester County Legislators:
I am calling on you to immediately terminate the agreement with Standard Amusements to manage Playland. I have grave concerns about the financial impacts this 30-year contract will have for the County and it is your fiduciary responsibility as elected officials to protect the County taxpayers from such a deleterious agreement. I also have grave concerns about the inexperience and lack of a proven track record of the chosen operator. I believe we can do better for both County Taxpayers and our national historic landmark, Playland. I urge you to disentangle the County from this contract and proceed quickly with a long-term plan for better stewardship of this valuable and beloved asset on behalf of all County residents.

Email to all the following (copy the block of addresses and paste into your recipients list):
GLatimer@westchestergov.com, KJenkins@westchestergov.com, JNonna@westchestergov.com, JMcdonald@westchestergov.com, jxt2@westchestergov.com, ksc2@westchestergov.com, mac5@westchestergov.com, mkk8@westchestergov.com, bxb3@westchestergov.com, neb7@westchestergov.com, cfp7@westchestergov.com, aaw3@westchestergov.com, cxb9@westchestergov.com, drm7@westchestergov.com, tdc3@westchestergov.com, mjs2@westchestergov.com, ldw3@westchestergov.com, djt4@westchestergov.com, gab6@westchestergov.com, caj3@westchestergov.com, vxp1@westchestergov.com

2) If you have not already done so, please read, sign and SHARE the petition to "Keep Rye Playland Public" on Change.org.

Background:
In 2018 newly, elected Westchester County Executive George Latimer’s team commenced a thorough and detailed review of the pending management agreement with Standard Amusements/United Parks to take over operation of Playland. Currently Playland is still operated by the County and will again be County-run for the upcoming 2019 season.

In March of 2018 Westchester County Legislator Catherine Parker called for the County to terminate the contract based on a number of concerns.

In Spring 2018 the CE’s office issued the “McDonald-Nonna” report which detailed numerous serious concerns regarding the contract with Standard Amusements.

News12 Story on the Contoversy

This is a financially disastrous agreement for County Taxpayers that will see them investing significant money into the Park for necessary capital improvements projects while simultaneously handing the Park’s management over to a private hedge fund that will recoup all of its investment (significantly less than the County’s portion) and then retain over 90% of any profits realized, leaving the County no real hope of ever recouping its own substantial financial investment into the Park.

Also of significant concern is that Standard Amusements currently operates just two other parks: Hydro Adventures in Missouri (since 2014) and Daytona Lagoon in Florida (since 2016). Both of these properties are operated under the ‘United Parks’ banner (www.unitedparks.com) which is funded by the ‘Purchase Capital’ financial entity. These are their only properties and they are both primarily water parks-nothing like the national historic landmark facility we have at Playland. United Parks has no demonstrable, proven track record or established history of successful park management or corporate financial success. It appears to be a start up company lacking the necessary experience to undertake the task of ‘turning Playland around’. It’s questionable whether or not they have the financial resources to undertake this endeavor and ALL County residents should be deeply concerned about this.

Please share this information widely and urge others you know to take this simple action of communicating with their elected County officials about this matter.

To read the contract with Standard Amusements click here.

For more info on how to contact County Legislators (phone numbers, bios etc.) click here