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The Playland Improvement Plan outlines the steps that Sustainable Playland Inc. (SPI) intends to take to provide year-round activities and attractions for the 85 year-old amusement park. The 80- page document will be reviewed by Astorino and his staff before being passed on to the Westchester County Board of Legislators for consideration.
If the plan is approved, SPI intends to begin the first steps of the $34 million renovation in 2014. The first upgrades would be made to the Amusement Zone, and Kiddlyand specifically. The Amusement Zone woild include Playland's signature rides, and would be given new rides, venues and attractions, using the 2006 Master Plan as a guideline. Among the rides that would be added to Kiddlyand in the first year are Jump Around, Happy Swing, Magic Bikes, Sky Tower and HydroRace. Over the next five years more rides would be added, and the Playland Plunge would be removed to make room for a picnic and lawn area. The Amusement Zone would be operated by Central Amusements International, a subsidiary of Zamperla, which operates amusement parks such as Coney Island.
Other zones would also be added to the park. The Beach and Aqua Zone would include a 700 square foot interactive water playground. The Field Zone would have a 95,000 square foot field house and multi-purpose outdoor fields. The Fountain Plaza zone would provide space for restaurants, seasonal kiosks, and would house programs and events throughout the year. The Ice Casino would also be repaired, and the Westchester Children's Museum would be built within the next two years.
Astorino signed a deal back in April with SPI to take over operations of the park for the next 10 years, with an option to renew for another 10 years. The county would still own the park and would receive $1.2 million per year from SPI. If the Playland Improvement Plan is not approved by the Board of Legislators, then SPI has the option of backing out of the agreement.
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