Astorino Announces Playland Citizens Committee

Westchester County Executive Robert Astorino held a press conference in White Plains this morning to announce the Playland Citizens Committee.

"Our hope is to have a consensus," said Astorino. "I hope we'll move forward in a deliberative, passionate, and open way."

Astorino said the proposals will be evaluated by a criteria of "5 E's" : Economics, Environment, Entertaiment, Experience and Expectations.

The committee will receive public portions of the proposals, due March 10, about 2 weeks after an internal committe from the county executive's office has removed "proprietary information" from them, said Astorino.

The citizens' committee will not have the authority to decide which proposal is selected, but will make recommendations and provide feedback for a feasibility report to be completed by late June or early July, said Astorino.

Staff members from the county executive's office– William Mooney, senior assistant to Astorino, and Peter Tartaglia, deputy commissioner of parks– have been assigned to liaision with the committee and complete a feasibilty report in 90 days. A determination upon the proposals will then be made within another 60 days.

"Based on perhaps maybe some part of the proposals, we could maybe break ground in 2012, I think 2013 is more realistic," said Astorino. "It's going to depend on the complexity of the proposals and the consensus that we can reach with everybody."

Astorino tempered his hopes for a fast start by noting many variables including financing, litigation, and bonding issues could increase the timeline.

Astorino said the projects "could run the gamut" and that he had no idea what type of proposals would come in by next week. But the status quo was no longer an option for Astorino.

"What we have now is a 100 day park...that's losing $4 to 6 million a year," said Astorino. "We want a year-round park."

Rye City Mayor Doug French is a member of the committee. Though the committee lacks decision making authority, he said the group and process were consistent with the goals identified by a committee convened within Rye.

"We are going into this with our eyes wide open," Mayor French said. "Rye will have a voice and the values we have identified will be reflected in the process."

The group includes Rye politicians, legislators, business people from the recreation and leisure industries as well as a Yonkers high school student.

• Chairperson Jim Chisolm, Parks Board Chairman
• Doug French, Mayor of Rye City
• Joe Carvin, Rye Town Supervisor
• Charles Dorn, Chairman of the Playland Strategic Planning Committe for Rye
• Bill Ryan, Chairman of Public Works, Labor, Transportation and Parks
• Judy Myers, Legislator
• Sheila Marcotte, Legislator
• David Swope, Chairman of Jacob Burns Film Center; Teatown Reservation Trustee
• Liz Bracken-Thompson, Chairman of Friends and Parks
• Richard French, President of Regional News Networks; Representative from Westchester County Association
• Ellen Lynch, Representative from Business Council fo Westchester
• John Peckham, President of Peckham Industries; Arts Westchester, Chairman of the Board of Trustees
• Scott Bernstein, former Amusement/Entertainment Executive; Bedford resident
• Jimm Dannhuaser, former Six Flags CFO; Bronxville resident
• Natasha Caputo, Entertainment/ Tourism consultant; Mount Kisco resident
• Jim Houlihan, Houlihan-Parnes Realtors, LLC; former board member of Friends of Parks
• Evan Inlaw, Attorney; Yonkers resident
• Father Richard Alejunas, S.D.B., Chairman of the Westchester Youth Advisory Board; Don Mosco Community Center of Port Chester
• Caleb Gilligan-Evans, Junior at Stepinac High School; Yonkers resident

Rye Playground's 100 day season will contine this summer with admission rates remaining about the same, said Astorino.