Friends – We’ve just gotten word today that TONIGHT, Tues. June 28th, 2016 at 7:30PM Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino will be holding a “Town Hall” meeting in Mamaroneck. It will take place in the courtroom at the Mam’k TOWN hall (not the Village bldg) located a 740 W. Boston Post Road, Mamaroneck, NY 10543. In light of the news yesterday that the County Exec. has requested $2.7 Mil dollars for DEMOLITION of Playland’s iconic Public Pool, we hope that you can make last minute plans to attend and let him know what you think of this move to privatize. To read about the Pool demolition attempt, read this Patch piece from Mon. 6/27/16: http://patch.com/new-york/rye/playlands-public-swimming-pool-buh-bye-0 The update to this Patch piece is that during the Committee meeting all three Committees agreed not to take any action on the bond request at this time pending further discussion. They have until July 31st to vote on it. Here is a link to the video of yesterday’s meeting. The discussion on Playland starts at approx. minute marker 22:00 http://westchestercountyny.iqm2.com/Citizens/SplitView.aspx?Mode=Video&MeetingID=4276&Format=Agenda It’s important to note that other County Pools have received MILLIONS of dollars in improvements such as Wilson’s Woods, Saxon Woods and Tibbetts. Just last August (2015) the County Executive requested and received almost $10 Mil to restore and re-open the Pool at Sprain Brook that has been CLOSED SINCE 2010. One rationalization for closing Playland’s Pool is that not enough people use it. Last summer it had 27,000 visitors, not counting significantly more visitors to the Beach at Playland. Yet Sprain Brook Pool has had ZERO visitors for at least six years and is receiving funding for a full restoration. The move to remove the Pool at Playland is to placate Standard Amusements who do not want to operate a public pool (no profit). Standard Amusements’ plans for that site appear to be a year round, for-profit catering facility of some sort, not a public amenity like the Pool. The Public needs to react swiftly and vociferously to let the County Executive and BOL know that we don’t want to lose that Pool. For info in the Sprain Ridge Pool restoration, approved just ten months ago, see below: New Sprain Ridge pool won't include water park attractions “A study by the county parks department had highlighted the importance placed on swimming as an amenity for county residents. Creating mini water parks at aging county pools was viewed as a way to increase attendance and recover the cost of design and construction.” “Mike Kaplowitz, chairman of the Board of Legislators, said another consideration was that the wave of water parks had receded a bit. He said there had been “pushback” from some residents, who just want to swim. ‘They don’t necessarily need, in every one of our pools, these wacky and wild rides,” he said. “I think we’re trending more towards traditional uses.’ “ http://www.lohud.com/story/news/local/westchester/yonkers/2015/08/11/sprain-ridge-pool-yonkers/31479993/ Westchester approves $8.8M for Sprain Ridge pool: http://www.lohud.com/story/news/local/westchester/yonkers/2015/08/03/westchester-approves-sprain-ridge-pool/31052535/ Please come tonight and ask CE Astorino in person just exactly how he can justify this to the County Taxpayers.