A portion of Playland Parkway was renamed in honor of longtime public servant John Carey on June 9. Carey, who died at the age of 95 in 2019, was a World War II veteran, a Rye City Councilman and Mayor, a legal scholar, a member of the United Nations Sub-Commission on the Prevention of Discrimination and the Protection of Minorities for over two decades, and a Westchester County judge until he reached the mandatory retirement age. 

During his two-term tenure as mayor, Carey was well-known for being a strong coalition builder, and for his acquisition of Rye Golf Club and a public beach next to Playland Amusement Park. 

Mr. Carey’s children – Jennifer Carey Riechle, Doug Carey, and Chip Carey – were on hand for the unveiling of the John Carey Place sign, along with County Legislator Catherine Parker, who stepped up as Master of Ceremonies for County Executive George Latimer; the pair were instrumental in getting approval for the name change. 

Mayor Josh Cohn paid tribute to Carey, as did his predecessor, Joe Sack, who considered Carey “an important mentor and an all-around great man.”