The arbitration panel composed of three former judges that has been reviewing the dispute between Westchester County and Standard Amusements over the termination of Standard’s contract to manage the amusement park has issued a new ruling in the case.
The panel supports the county’s termination of the contract following Standard having sent its own notice of termination alleging that the county had violated the contract. The panel also said that Standard is only entitled to collect the least amount of liquidated damages that is allowed under the Playland Management Agreement (PMA) that the two parties signed.
The arbitration panel’s decision did not mention any dollar amounts but did specify that the damages must be calculated in the way the management contract specifies. Westfair’s Westchester County Business Journal was told that it may be some time before the dollar amount involved can be determined.
The arbitration panel’s decision was signed by its chairman Jonathan Lippman who was joined by the other panel members, Shira A. Scheindlin and Anthony J. Carpinello. The panel found that Standard Amusements defaulted under the terms of the Playland Management Agreement by refusing to operate Playland during the 2025 season and formally turning over management to the county in February 2025.
The arbitration panel noted that “Standard does not dispute that it turned the park management over to the county as of February 20, 2025, and that it did not operate Playland in the 2025 season.”
Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins said, “This decision is a clear validation of the county’s position that Standard Amusements defaulted on its responsibilities to operate and manage Playland. Our priority has always been ensuring that Playland remains open, safe, fun and well-managed for the residents of Westchester – especially our littlest residents – for now and beyond. With this ruling, the county can move forward with certainty and continue to build a strong future for this cherished park. On my watch, Playland will continue to the crown jewel of Westchester County.”
The county opened the amusement park for the summer season with only some of the rides operating. It cut the prices for parking and tickets admission and extended the operating season to include some weekends in September. It alleged that Standard had left the park in “a drastic state of disrepair.”
The county says that with the latest arbitration decision, it now has full and undisputed control of Playland’s management moving forward.
