New York Rangers and Chase bank have formed a program that will first refurbish Playland’s Ice Casino, which suffered more than $4.9 in damages during Sandy, and will work to improve youth hockey opportunities, according toa Westchester County Board of Legislators press release.
The new community-based program, called New York Rangers Assist, will provide a new refrigeration system and roof and structural repairs at Playland. It will also help the City of Long Beach Arena in Long Beach
Legislator Judy Meyers (D- Larchmont), chair of the Budget and Appropriations Committee, thanked the Rangers and Chase for their initiative on Thursday.
“It is incredible and welcome news that the New York Rangers and Chase have chosen to create a new community-based program and one of its first beneficiaries will be Westchester County,” said Myers. “When Hurricane Sandy blew in, Playland received probably the hardest hit in the county, and crippling damage was done to the Ice Casino. With local youth hockey programs scrambling to find ice time, the Rangers and Chase initiative will help repair the Ice Casino and hasten its re-opening, which will certainly gladden the hearts of local hockey enthusiasts and ice skaters.”
Two bond acts to fund repairs at Playland, including a $4,925,000 bond for Ice Casino repair, were approved by the Board of Legislators and added to the county’s 2013 capitol projects budget in January.
“We will have to iron out details with insurance companies and FEMA, but happily do so knowing that our work together is a positive step toward a stronger future for Playland and the Ice Casino,” Myers said.
