Playland Braces for Huge July 4th Attendance

As Rye's Playland Amusement Park braces for anywhere from 12,000 to 20,000 visitors over the July 4 holiday weekend, traditionally one of its biggest weekends of the year, veteran Westchester Deputy Parks Commissioner Dan McBride, director of the park, had one eye peeled on the weather forecasts and the other focused on crowd control.

"If the weather co-operates and its hot and sunny, we've had as many as 20,000 people in the amusement park and on Playland Beach over the July 4 weekend in the past, but it could be more like 12,000 to 14,000 people this year if the average attendance figures hold true," he said.

And, in this era of "staycations," with people vacationing closer to home due to the downturn in the economy, several things will be done differently this year, he said.

For example, for the first time in the history of Playland, which was established in 1928, a professional parking corporation will be brought in to handle the expected surge in cars coming to the National Historic Landmark park, beach and pool off Forest Avenue on Long Island Sound.

The reason: Over the recent Memorial Day weekend Playland's parking lot, which has 2,084 spaces, was filled by around noon, and had to be closed briefly, as was the case at nearby Rye Town Park and Jones Beach on Long Island.

This time around, there will be additional signage so that the professional car jockeys will direct the overflow to the Playland parking area behind the pool (around 700 spaces) and a nearby back lot Playland parking area in that same vicinity (about 200 spaces), according to McBride.

And, in a worst-case scenario, McBride said there will also be lawn parking. Attendants have also been instructed to direct the possible parking overflow to the nearby Rye commuter train station parking lot where parking is free over the weekend and parking spaces are usually plentiful. Public buses run frequently to and from the train station to Playland where the sign at the entrance to the amusement park says: "Vacation Close to Home at Rye Playland."

In the era of "Staycations," that also means dealing with potential parking problems, so Playland attendants will be in constant communication with Rye Town Park to monitor the traffic flow and stay on top of parking availability or the lack thereof.

"All of this has been in the planning stage for months now," according to McBride, referring to planning meetings between Playland officials, Westchester County Parks Commission officials, Rye City Mayor Doug French, Rye City and Westchester County Police Department representatives as well as delegates from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Metro North Railroad and Rye Town Park.

"Traffic and parking is going to be a definite challenge, but we've been planning for it, from increased and improved signage and communications to professional parking help," said McBride. "So we think we're ready for it, up to the challenge. And public safety is a primary concern."

Another new wrinkle will involve the traditional Playland fireworks show every Wednesday and Friday evening (July and August at 9:15 p.m.), with a special fireworks show on Independence Day.

This year, for the first time, the Playland Pier, the traditional staging area for the fireworks show, will be off limits to the public because of its proximity to one of Playland's newest attractions, the recently opened waterfront Pier Restaurant and Tiki Bar, a Polynesian-themed style restaurant run by Seaside Johnnies owners John Ambrose and Sammy Chernin. Their new restaurant has outdoor tables bordering on the pier.

"The fireworks will be either launched from the pier, or from a floating barge off the pier," according to McBride, who has worked his way up through the Parks Department ranks, holds various college degrees in parks management, and has a Playland family history that exudes pride in the place. His father, for example, earned extra money by working a second job at the Playland Ice Casino, running the Zamboni ice-making machine, among other things, and Dan and his brother worked as lifeguards at the old Oakland Beach swimming pool.

So when he instructs his staff to be Disney-style friendly and mean it when they say "Have Some Fun Today" to Playland's visitors, that advice comes from the heart, as well as from sound management training.

But the more things change the more they stay the same, as the saying goes. So seven of Playland's original treasures will still be running, including the Dragon Coaster, Grand Carousel, Derby Racer, Ye Olde Mill, The Whip, Kiddy Coaster and Kiddy Carousel. And the Dragon Coaster still remains the most popular crowd-pleasing favorite of the more than 50 major and Kiddyland rides.

Many people still refer to Playland as the only government-owned and operated amusement park in America. It isn't –Kennywood in a suburb of Pittsburgh is the other one. McBride has visited it to see what makes it tick, just as he has visited other major amusement parks across the country on vacations to compare notes on how to run a great amusement park.

So, McBride is filled with Rye and Westchester pride when he says Playland can compete with other parks, with its thrill rides and historic favorites, which have been a staple of family fun and entertainment in Rye for more than 80 years.

Further information: 813-7000; www.RyePlayland.org.