Playland Ice Casino closed for the year

Due to damage from Hurricane Sandy, the Ice Casino at Rye Playland will be closed for the year.

The county made the announcement March 18 and said the closure of the skating rink would cost Westchester $1.6 million in revenue.

The park is set to open for the season May 11, but the North Boardwalk and Seaside Walk will also be closed.

Playland alone suffered $12 million in damage from Sandy, with the Ice Casino taking the brunt of it. The facility”™s roof requires major repairs before it can be reopened. Two doors were also blown off during the storm, and a flood in the basement damaged the boilers.

In January, the county Budget and Appropriations Committee unanimously approved a $4.9 million bond to repair the Ice Casino.

The county expects to get most of the bond reimbursed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and insurance.