Sustainable Playland Inc., the Rye-based nonprofit chosen to ‘reinvent’ Playland, was given a two-week extension to submit a plan outlining its proposed changes to the county-owned amusement park.
SPI signed an agreement with the Westchester County executive on July 23 and was given 30 days to detail plans to change or improve the park. This week, the group asked for two more weeks to put its proposal together, according to Geoff Thompson, of Thompson and Bender, a spokesman for SPI.
“There are a lot of moving parts in this,” Thompson said, “and they”™re just trying to make sure they have the package as tightly wrapped as possible.” There haven”™t been any issues with putting together the plan other than the hectic nature of synching schedules in late summer, Thompson said.
The 10-year deal with Sustainable calls for the group to invest $34 million into the park. The group”™s proposal includes the addition of outdoor ball fields and an indoor field house, a renovated indoor ice rink and new restaurants.
Once submitted, the plan must be approved by Westchester County Executive Robert P. Astorino, then forwarded to the county Board of Legislators for approval. The Democratic-led board and its chairman, Ken Jenkins, have called into question the legality of the agreement with SPI based on the fact the group was chosen by the county executive, who is a Republican, without board approval.
The plans are expected sometime during the first full week of September.
