Westchester County received 12 proposals to “reinvent” county-owned Rye Playland in 2011. As the county revisits two of the proposals, here is a look at all 12 bidders and their ideas to reinvent the park.
Air Structures American Technologies Inc.
Air Structures worked with The Stonehill Group, L.L.C., a Connecticut-based real estate banking firm for its proposal, which sought to build 6.5-acre, fully enclosed air dome to house indoor sports facilities. The company proposed 4 acres of parking and its submission told the county it expected it could attract 600,000 visitors per year.
American Skating Entertainment Centers L.L.C.
Elmsford-based American Skating Entertainment Centers L.L.C. focused solely on the Playland Ice Casino. The company recently received a 10-year management agreement to run the rink. When the operator Sustainable Playland Inc. was set to take over operation of Playland, that group sought to subcontract the work to American. When Sustainable stepped away from the deal, the county stepped in to reach a deal with American for the rink only.
American is set to pay $300,000 in its first year, $250,000 the second year and see 2 percent increases each year following. It will spend $640,000 in capital improvements, which is in addition to the $4.5 million Westchester spent to reopen the rink after it was closed due to Hurricane Sandy-related damage.
Boardwalk Arts Inc.
Heather Patterson, the group”™s president, admitted to not having a grand reinvention plan and instead made several suggestions that focused on using the park as a haven for local artists. One of the suggestions was licensing and marketing Playland-themed merchandise.
Central Amusements International Inc.
Central was considered the frontrunner due to its relationship to rollercoaster and thrill-ride maker Zamperla. Central operated the Victorian Gardens at Wollman Rink in Central Park and the amusements at Coney Island. In its original proposal, it sought to start its rebuilding with Playland”™s kiddyland and by improving the miniature golf section.
JMC Marketing Services, L.L.C.
The group proposed building a new self-contained village called The Village of Westchester, which would have residential units. It also proposed building a revenue-generating marina.
PlaylandWatch.org
The community group, which did not list members nor disclose an address in its proposal, offered little in terms of tangible action or construction plan and instead offered 50 points to improve Playland. These included small customer service tips such as “hire friendly guards,” “keep bathrooms clean,” “use more paint” and “serve really great ice cream.”
Q Properties L.L.C.
The Connecticut-based group sought to build a field house complete with adventure park, which would include a rope climbing course and a zip line canopy tour during the summer.
Standard Amusements Inc.
Backed by Standard General L.P., the group looked to revitalize the aging amusement park section of Playland with the help of amusement park expert Jack Falfas, who previously ran Dorney Park. Falfas is again working with Standard as they come back to the negotiating table with the county.
State Fair Group
The New Jersey-based group suggested hosting classic car shows in the fall, having more musical acts and holding a holiday lights show.
Sustainable Playland Inc.
The group started in Rye and offered perhaps the broadest concept of how to improve the park. It was chosen as the management company in 2012, but the plan withered under legislative scrutiny due to community backlash to aspects of the plan, concerns over parking and questions about how the group would raise the money needed. It walked away from the deal in summer 2014.
TPC Rye L.L.C.
TPC, a subsidiary of Louisiana-based Paidia Co., wanted to dramatically alter the park so that its amusement area was divided into thematic, educational areas centered around a giant pyramid structure overlooking the Sound. Kiddyland would have become a science zone. The proposal would have cost an estimated $122 million.
Valentine Creative Marketing
Rye resident Susan Valentine Kane did not outline a construction or management deal, but offered some ideas that included a Dragon Coaster app.
