Changes to SPI Plan Revealed During Signing Ceremony

The Westchester Children’s Museum finally has the key to Playland’s North Bathhouse, which they have been trying to occupy for the last 13 years. Westchester County Rob Astorino handed the Museum President Corinne Zola an oversized key to symbolize the moment at a ceremony today that celebrated the 10-year lease now signed between the county and museum. (Read more on the agreement here).

While Museum founders and supporters are excited to move on to fundraising and building the museum, the long-awaited moment was shared with another contract signing that was premature for symbolic keys.

That contract was an asset management agreement (AMA) between the County and Sustainable Playland Inc. (SPI), the non-profit group that Astorino selected last October to invest in and take over management of the 85-year-old park. But while Astorino, county legislators, SPI board members and even furry Playland characters smiled for cameras after the signing, some Board of Legislature (BOL) members were still questioning the plan all together and doubting its swift enactment.

“There is no way the BOL will be rushing into doing anything,” said BOL Chairman Ken Jenkins.

The BOL must approve a Playland Improvement Plan (PIP) that outlines the material changes that SPI plans to make when they take over park management, which SPI now has 30 days to submit. If the board does not approve it by Jan. 1, 2014, SPI can withdraw from the agreement. 

Jenkins and other Democratic BOL members questioned SPI’s financial liability and said they will need to do their “due diligence,” review an impending financial audit of the proposals, and likely modify SPI’s plan before approving anything. Also, Jenkins filed a legal challenge to the management agreement two months ago. Astorino continues to support the plan and urge legislators to approve it. 

“Running an amusement park is not an essential government service,” Astorino said at the press conference, emphasizing the benefits of a public-private partnership to keep the park county-owned but keep the county out of the amusement park business. “And memories do not pay the bills.”

SPI plans to invest $34 million into the park and create an attraction that is open year-round with several different zones- amusement, field, Great Lawn/fountain, aqua and shore zone. After significant public protest to their original plan, SPI has modified it to keep more rides and decrease the size of the proposed Great Lawn, Astorino and SPI President Kim Morque announced at the press conference.

They also announced that Mega Fun Works has been replaced with Central Amusements Inc. (CIA) to operate the amusement zone. CIA is one of the 12 original groups that submitted proposals for the park. Jenkins and others are skeptical of the announced changes.  

Jenkins and legislator MaryJane Shimsky (D-Hastings-on-Hudson) said that the changes alone make it clear the BOL will need to carefully consider SPIs plans and ask for any necessary modifications. But they also question whether Playland needs a third party operator in the first case. Astorino hopes the BOL sees what he and his administration have with SPI.

“It is my hope they (the BOL) will see it’s the right thing for the people of Westchester,” Astorino said. “The county is losing revenue and expenses are staying the same,” he said, a fact Jenkins says is not proven. “Once approvals are in, money can start coming into the county,” Astorino said.

Morque acknowledged that today’s ceremony was not the mark of a done deal.

“The task is not complete, many challenges remain,” Morque said. “It begins with the Playment Improvement Plan,” he said. “SPI appreciates the opportunity to have a positive influence on the future of Playland Park.”

SPI plans to be sensitive about the historic elements of the park and is dedicated to keeping a vibrant amusement park with more open space, he added.

If the PIP is approved, visitors will first start to see changes over several years, starting with small changes like the creation of the Great Lawn, restaurants, some rides moved around and the construction of field houses, Astorino said.

There will be no huge changes immediately, he said. Kiddyland and all the historic rides will remain.  

“No one’s taking the dragon’s teeth,” he said, alluding to the historic Dragon Coaster, a visitor favorite for decades.

While the bureaucratic approvals are still pending, the county will operate the park through the end of the year and will move forward with the multi-million job of repairing the Ice Casino that was badly damaged by Hurricane Sandy, Astorino said. Construction bids are due back Wednesday, July 24, and the county hopes to open the ice rink by mid-2014. Federal and state money due to the county for Sandy damage has complicated and delayed the reconstruction of the ice rink, he said.

The BOL Government Operations Committee will receive the PIP in 30 days or less after Astorino reviews and approves it. The Committee can review it for however long they feel is necessary before they put it to the entire board for a vote, Jenkins said. Of the 17 members of the BOL, 12 must vote in favor of the PIP by Dec. 31, 2013 or SPI can withdraw from the agreement, he said.

“Right now, they don’t have 12 people who will vote in favor of this,” Jenkins said.