Westchester Reporter

Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins announced plans to open Playland for the 2025 season, despite facing legal challenges with Standard Amusements. The announcement was made during a weekly briefing on January 27.

Jenkins emphasized the importance of Playland, stating, “We have long said that Playland is the crown jewel of this County. Since 2018, the County has made every effort to ensure this beloved park thrives for future generations and today that commitment continues.”

The County is preparing for what is anticipated to be a complex legal battle. Jenkins refuted claims that the County had prior knowledge of termination in November, mentioning a conversation with Standard Amusements about possibly negotiating a settlement which did not progress further.

Jenkins added, “The bottom line is this: Standard Amusements was losing money. They couldn’t make Playland work, and now they are trying to place the blame on the County for their failure - after the County has spent close to $150 million pursuant to the PMA.”

The partnership between Westchester County and Standard Amusements began under a public-private partnership model during the Astorino administration. This agreement required reimbursements from the County for investments and expenses incurred by Standard.

Jenkins explained efforts were made to renegotiate this contract: “While the original contract was flawed, we managed to renegotiate it to implement a cap on reimbursements, protecting taxpayers from an even greater financial burden. Despite our efforts, we were ultimately blocked from fully walking away from the deal due to a bankruptcy court ruling that sided with Standard Amusements.”

The county invested $150 million into upgrading and restoring Playland while accusing Standard Amusements of neglecting its responsibilities and mismanaging operations at the park.