Playland amusement park in Rye opened with solely restricted rides this weekend after politicians handed out a $1.7 million no-bid “emergency” contract – with Westchester County taxpayers on the hook for mounting payments.
The county authorities — which owns the enduring park on the Lengthy Island Sound — signed the deal in a rush to get Playland open for summer time with journey producer Zamperla, an organization that has carried out work with County Govt Ken Jenkins’ former marketing campaign supervisor.
The scramble got here after non-public operator Customary Amusement informed the county it deliberate to finish its administration contract after Westchester allegedly didn’t stay as much as the phrases of the deal.
However Jenkins, a Democrat, has come beneath hearth for the emergency contract after Customary apparently knowledgeable the county of its intention to finish the settlement in November, then formally opted out in February.
“Mr. Jenkins has misled Westchester residents and is sticking them with an enormous invoice,” mentioned Christine Sculti, the Republican candidate for county govt earlier this month.
She assailed the contract as a “political emergency” for Jenkins.
Jenkins and different county leaders reduce the ribbon to the park’s opening Saturday – after which patted themselves on the again although most rides have been nonetheless closed, resulting in lengthy strains at occasions.
“Opening this park in time for Memorial Day Weekend wasn’t simple,” Jenkins mentioned in a press release.
“It took hustle. It took late nights, early mornings, and a group of County staff who refused to provide something lower than 100%.”
To date, solely eight of 21 rides at Kiddyland can be found whereas different rides, just like the famend Dragon Coaster and Derby Racer, are closed for now.
5 of the 20 rides for older patrons have been accessible with two of three newer rides open Memorial Day weekend.
Jenkins beforehand has blamed the uncertainty on Customary for not holding rides up to date – an assertion the corporate has known as “fabrications.” He additionally has slammed Rob Astorino — a Republican former county govt who left workplace in 2017 — for the park’s ongoing struggles.
Customary mentioned it poured greater than $35 million into the park throughout its administration relationship again to 2021 and spent $1 million a 12 months the previous three years for journey upkeep.
“The County claims Customary Amusements left the park in ‘Heartbreaking Form’ — the fact is that Customary Amusements inherited a park in such situation, and the County is now taking on a much-improved park,” the corporate mentioned in press launch this month.
The county could be pressured to pay Customary as a lot as $36 million if an arbitrator finds the county was at fault for the settlement crumbling. Westchester although is combating to presumably recoup funds from Customary if it’s discovered the corporate left rides in dangerous form.
Jenkins has argued the county put $150 million into the park over a number of years.
Whereas Playland goes again to being operated by the county, it’s paying Zamperla via the top of September to examine and preserve sure rides, based on The Journal Information.
Zamperla had teamed with Jenkins’ marketing campaign supervisor and amusement park guide Joe Montalto to bid on operating the park earlier than Customary was chosen as its operator.
In 2019, when Jenkins was deputy county govt, Westchester employed Montalto’s Excessive Mountain Enterprises to put in a journey within the park — and he helped dealer a contract for that work with Zamperla.
A county spokesperson informed The Put up in an e mail earlier this month Montalto is not straight concerned in Playland.
“Joe Montalto was a long run County worker who ran Playland for a few years, nonetheless presently he isn’t concerned within the County’s operation of Playland or on this Administration,” the spokesperson mentioned.
