WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From the Westchester County Board of Legislators. August 18, 2010: 

The Westchester County Board of Legislators leadership, Chairman Ken Jenkins and Democratic Majority Whip Legislator Judith Myers (Rye), said today they supported County Executive Rob Astorino's initiative to see proposals for new ideas and usages for Playland Amusement Park in Rye.

Legislators announced plans to move forward on a lease agreement that would house the Westchester Childrens Museum at Playland.  Slated for soft openings in mid 2011, the Museum would occupy the building formerly housing the Playland Bathhouse.

WPCNR observes that the alterations to the bathhouse section where the museum would go has been substantially changed in design of the museum portion in the recent reconstruction that has taken away, in this reporter's opinion, the "art deco" style that made the Playland Boardwalk a landmark.  

“At a time when budget cuts and the erosion of quality after-school youth programs are causing more people to seek out community-based alternative services within Westchester County, the Children’s Museum will be a vibrant, interactive, cultural institution for children and families, a dynamic resource for schools, a welcoming environment for special needs children, and a means to build tourism in the county,” said Chairman Jenkins.

The former Andy Spano Administration agreed to lease the newly repaired South Bathhouse at county expense for $1 a year, if the Museum could raise the money to build the interior and operate the museum. The Museum has raised $8 million so far and wants to raise $14 Million, and has spent $1.5 Million on building designs.

Legislator Myers, a staunch advocate for the Children’s Museum, supports the County Executive’s request for proposals for Playland because the time is right to make a change, however she won’t support anything that brings more traffic into the Rye residential neighborhood, nor any discussions that do not include Rye residents at the table, or anything that prohibits public access to the Long Island Sound.

“The Children’s Museum represents a community-wide investment in our children without spending any taxpayers money,” said Legislator Myers.  “Over 870,000 children under 11 years of age live within a 15-mile driving radius of our future site at Playland Park in Rye. Yet, Westchester has relatively few cultural resources designed specifically for children.  The Children’s Museum on the boardwalk would be a welcomed addition to the outdoor cafes that don’t interfere with boardwalk runners and walkers, to historic ‘Kiddyland’ for the very young, an Ice Casino for year-round skating, and a music tower for summer concerts. 

The Museum has begun educational programs with community groups as part of its operations. The lease for the museum is being developed for presentation to the Board's Committees on Budget and Appropriation and Public Works, Parks, Labor and Transportation, chaired by Legislator Bill Ryan (of White Plains).