Deal for private Playland manager nixed

Plans to turn over management of a popular amusement park in Rye, N.Y., one that draws visitors from around the region and southern Connecticut, have been terminated.

Westchester County Executive George Latimer said this week the county was scrapping a deal for Standard Amusements, a private company, to run Playland.

The agreement with Standard Amusements was worked out by the previous county administration to revive the struggling and money-losing facility.

According to Latimer, the county administration was displeased by a number of steps taken, or not taken, by Standard Amusements. The executive said millions the company was to have spent on improvements went instead to high-priced lawyers and public relations executives.