Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Well, I'm really excited about talking to this next guest.
I haven't had a chance to talk to Ken Jenkins yet,
Westchester County executive since he won the election and took
over in January. Ken, before we get to Playland Park, congratulations,
How how's the job been so far?
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Well? Well, first, Larry, thank you so much. I'm glad
to be with you in the morning. They need the morning.
And certainly it's been an exciting time. And again during
all the challenges that are going on in Washington and
again trying to navigate through all these things, it's been fantastic.
And watch just to be able to have stability and
manage with confidence and stability.
Speaker 1 (00:36):
Yeah, from everything I've heard, you've been doing a wonderful job.
And so let's talk about Playland Park. Talking about doing
a wonderful job. This is such an important part of
so many people's memories. I'm glad that it's going to
continue and it's going to thrive. Ken, do you have
memories of Playland Park?
Speaker 2 (00:57):
Oh? Absolutely, I mean, you know, growing up in and
then let's say the county, we'd come up to Plainland
at least once or twice during the year, and certainly
It is a memory maker for so many people. I mean,
the park is almost one hundred years old, and again
that means is a lot of people around that have
Playland memories. We always have used to have a joke
(01:18):
no matter where you are in the country, you get
to see a play lamp bumper sticker somewhere.
Speaker 1 (01:27):
You know, that's true, That is absolutely true. But this
Playland Park in twenty twenty five isn't like it hasn't
differed way so much that your memories aren't intact. But
there's some big changes, aren't there.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
Oh? No, absolutely, it's big changes. And again we know
that everything is heated up at at Playland Park this year.
And you know, we took back over the amusement park
from Standard Amusements in February of this year, so we've
been steadily moving on in the direction of restoring those memories,
getting things moving forward. We've invested from Westchester County over
(02:04):
one hundred and fifty million dollars over the past three
years into the park, so we're moving forward and getting
things going. So it's exciting. You know, we bought back
the fireworks, so that's spreading on Friday. This is Friday
February fourth, on Independence date, so fourth of July we
have the fireworks and then every Friday. That tradition has continued.
So again kitty Land is open. We had some of
(02:26):
the big park rives open, and we continue to move
forward and try to make more things happen in the
magic of play Left.
Speaker 1 (02:32):
I love what you said a moment ago that you're
modernizing it and you're doing all these new things within
You have to you have to stay up with the times.
But you want to make certain that people's memories are intact,
that there's enough of Playland Park so that when people
go back there they go, oh, yeah, this is this
is an important part of my childhood. This is an
important part of my child's childhood. So that was important
(02:55):
to you in going into this renovation.
Speaker 2 (02:57):
Right, oh, absolutely, And again, well it was an agreement
that we had wag stand of amusement. You know, the
partnership broke up. But that doesn't mean that Playland is
not Playland. I mean it is a beautiful, beautiful facility
when people walk in from its beginnings a May twenty
sixth and nineteen twenty three, you'll be able to move
forward and see twenty eight im sorry to be able
(03:20):
to look and see those same memories, the same vision
and view out onto the Long Island Sound from Playland Beach,
looking at the iconic music talent, looking at the colonade,
and certainly again the excitements back where you know people
are paying you know, ten bucks to park, they could
walk around the entire parks for free, and if they
decide to get on some rides, the wishbands of fifteen
(03:41):
dollars to ride all day for free. So again, so
fifteen dollars unlimited rides of fifteen dollars ten bucks. And
then there's so many other things to do with all
of our partners on the boardwalk along Playland Beach and
the pool. Is a beautiful investments that we've made in
both of those. The pools open, beach is open, boardwalks open,
(04:02):
westchest the Children's Museum is anchoring at one end of
the boardwalk, the Tiki bar and Beach Experience at the
other end of the boardwalk. And then you can go
inside and walk around Playland, walk around the amusement area
and decide whether or not you want to get on
some vive, get some funnel cakes of ice cream. I
mean you know all of the things that are there. It's
so exciting and we're looking forward to everyone coming back.
Speaker 1 (04:23):
Through and so affordable. That's that's just incredible.
Speaker 3 (04:27):
And I think the best part about going to Playland
is now as a parent or a grandparent in bringing
your child or your grandchild is like you said, there's
still those core memories that are there and you can
experience it now through the younger people in your family.
That is the best. Like you remember this, you remember that.
Speaker 2 (04:48):
And again, whether it's the historic wise like the Derby
Racer that's open. You know, we're still working hard and
getting back the Dragon Coosa, but you know we have
Derby Racer, we have the carousel. We know the historic rides,
the brand new rides, the dragon Nata, I mean, the
old cars, the motor the ride motor cars. So there's
enough stuff for everyone to do. There's been nothing but
(05:10):
positive vibes when people come through. And again the park
is open again. We have twelve to ten on the
fourth of July and the Physics July. Every other day
it's twelve to nine, so Wednesday through Sunday, So Wednesday, Thursday, Friday,
Saturday and Sunday, and that's where we're gonna keep working
on right now and again twelve to nine normally, except
(05:33):
on this week, on the holiday, on the fourth of
July twelve to ten, and certainly twelve to ten on Saturday.
Speaker 1 (05:39):
Do you have something special planned for the fourth of July.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
We got DJs in the park, you know, so we
have the DJ, we have Coaster, our mascot there. We're
gonna have meat and Greece. We have kids things happening
again with our they're for young folks and they're not
so young folks happening. We have DJs, we have bands
coming through. There's just so many things have and again
it's going to bring back all those memories for those
(06:03):
like you said, it being a new grand for parent myself,
you know, loving that opportunity, and I just keep getting
that feedback from every much.
Speaker 1 (06:10):
Hey, Ken, it sounds tremendous. Congratulations on the work you've
done with Playland Park. Congratulations on becoming the new county executive.
Hope to talk to you again.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
Love to do that. Thank you, and have a wonderful
day and a safe work of July