While the County Executive isn’t expected to make an announcement anytime soon about which, if any, of the three ‘finalists’ in the Reinventing Playland process will be selected to operate the park, Sustainable Playland Inc. (SPI) is jockeying for the lead. 

 

By Robin Jovanovich

 

While the County Executive isn’t expected to make an announcement anytime soon about which, if any, of the three ‘finalists’ in the Reinventing Playland process will be selected to operate the park, Sustainable Playland Inc. (SPI) is jockeying for the lead.

 

The non-profit organization is steadily raising money to stay in the running against the other two finalists, both big amusement park companies. Dan Biederman, who ‘reinvented’ Bryant Park has joined the SPI team and gave a stirring speech about public parks and vibrant communities at the group’s fundraiser at Coveleigh Club April 20.

 

Last month Sustainable board president Sandhya Subbarao, President of SPI’s Executive Board of Trustees, said she’s

excited that Biederman wants to do to Playland what he did for Bryant Park. “Playland has lost its luster as a family-oriented space,” she said.

 

SPI, which was incorporated in November 2010, has letters of intent from Restaurant Associates and Pearl Management to operate event space and dining on the top floor of the Administration Building, and from a ball field group. “If the County gives us the green light, we’ll have a football field.”

 

Subbarao said theirs “is a plug-in, plug out system.” DPI raises only as much money as it needs to be self-sustaining to the next leg.

 

“We’ve come so far,” said Subbarao. “Our public/private partnership is the best future for the park. “Our plan is to keep 70% of the rides, but provide much needed recreational space, and preserve open space.”