Parks & Environment Committee Meeting on July 7, 2026: Updates on Playland and Merestead Projects
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Parks & Environment Committee Meeting on July 7, 2026: Updates on Playland and Merestead Projects
The Parks & Environment Committee met on July 7, 2026, to discuss ongoing projects at Playland and Merestead. Acting Commissioner Peter Tartaglia and Director of Park Planning Rob Lopane provided updates. The committee also addressed other park-related matters including a proposed pool study at Croton Point Park, invasive species management, and lifeguard staffing.
Discussion Items
Playland Update
- Acting Commissioner Tartaglia reported that Playland is in its second season under county operation. 100% of Kiddieland rides are operational, and approximately 70–75% of major rides are operational, with that number expected to be much higher by the end of July. A new pirate-ship-type ride (previously purchased but not installed by the prior operator) is being erected and will open this month. The Dragon Coaster is open. Water rides are not yet open but will open within the next week due to late parts and needed electronics repairs.
- Food service: The county has a five-year contract with Culinar; temporary food trailers (larger than food trucks) are in place. All food areas will be filled by next season. A barbecue restaurant is planned for the fountain plaza area next year.
- Playland is open Wednesdays through Sundays (hours vary by day). Camp groups and school groups are returning. The park had to cancel July 4 fireworks due to a severe storm, but the amusement park, beach, and pool are open.
- Chair Pierce and Legislator Williams expressed appreciation for the progress and Tartaglia’s dedication.
Merestead Farmhouse Project
- The farmhouse project is in two phases. Phase 1 (envelope: roofing, siding, foundations, minor interior work) is approximately 30% complete. Unforeseen conditions were uncovered: significant deterioration of the original stone foundation, extensive deterioration of structural sill plates requiring replacement, wood rot in wall framing of a bump-out (future bathroom location), and more mold damage than initially assessed. The chimney contains asbestos; basement asbestos has already been remediated. Tartaglia stated that when they return for Phase 2, they will likely ask for additional funding to finish elements they could not complete in Phase 1.
- Phase 2 (interior design) is 90% complete. Design of the water supply well and sewer disposal is in early stages. Completion of interior design (including water infrastructure) is expected within six months, with a construction bond request anticipated in February 2027.
- The barn (historic Dutch barn) also needs work; DPW is designing a roof repair for a barn that had a failure.
- Legislator Williams expressed hope that the barn can be addressed before it deteriorates further.
Other Business
Pool Study at Croton Point Park (Legislator Ulaj)
- Legislator Ulaj requested a study for a pool at Croton Point Park. Tartaglia confirmed that a study for the pool and improvements to the cricket pitch will be included in a design bond for feasibility assessments.
Invasive Species Management at the Capped Landfill (Legislator Ulaj)
- Legislator Ulaj expressed concern about weeds and invasives threatening native grasses and the bird sanctuary at the capped landfill. Lopane stated that management measures (e.g., mowing at certain times) are discussed with the conservation division and the Department of Environmental Facilities. Legislator Ulaj noted that $100,000 was previously included in the capital plan for this work. Chair Pierce raised the possibility of prescribed burns (as done at Ward Pound Ridge), but Tartaglia said expert consultation is needed.
- Other areas with invasive species (e.g., the slope by the former brick factory) are also being considered for management.
Lifeguard Staffing (Legislator Williams Johnson)
- Legislator Williams Johnson asked if lifeguard staffing was an issue this year. Tartaglia reported that staffing is sufficient, with a good abundance of lifeguards. Seasonal turnover in late August is normal, and the county recruits year-round. The heat wave over July 4 weekend was challenging but did not require closing any sections due to lack of lifeguards. The program allowing 15-year-olds to start training has helped build a pipeline.
Key Outcomes
- No formal votes were taken. The committee received updates and discussed next steps.
- Tartaglia committed to including the Croton Point Park pool and cricket pitch study in a future design bond.
- The committee will monitor Merestead Phase 1 completion and prepare for Phase 2 bond request in February 2027.
- The committee will follow up with conservation and DEF on invasive species management and potential prescribed burns.
- The meeting adjourned at 2:52 PM.
Meeting Transcript
The WebX is being pretty wonky, just FYI. But we don't have anybody else on the meeting. We lost all the other people. Oh dear. Yeah, we were all kicked off. Yeah, I had to restart the meeting. I'm sorry, I thought. Oh, okay. Oh dear. Okay. We uh appreciate your patience. This meeting is being recorded. We've finally gotten them ironed out. Um this is uh the July 7th Parks and Environment uh meeting scheduled for two o'clock. I'm gonna call us to order. I am present, committee vice chair Williams Johnson. Present uh legislator Tubiolo, uh legislator Nolan here, uh Legislator Williams here. She's making her way in person, but still in transit. We can see her on the big screen. Uh Chairman Gashi, we are um open at 21. And today we are joined by uh two uh important people to talk to us about some of our ongoing uh parks projects, um including uh acting commissioner Peter Tartaglia and our director of park planning, Rob Lopain. I had to look up your title, uh Rob to make certain I got it right. Um and we we've asked them to come here today to speak specifically about two parks, Playland and Nearstead. Um we did were able to go on a tour of Playland, but since that wasn't a committee meeting, we wanted to be able to get the acting commissioner here to just talk through some of the stuff we were able to see in person so that that is shared with the public and is in the record, and also to get an update on on Nearstead. And so with that, I will turn it over to you two. Okay, good afternoon. I hope everybody is doing well today. Uh acting commissioner Peter Tartaglia at Parks will speak first about uh Playland. That's okay. We did take a tour a few weeks back to show um the very couple of committees, I believe, if I'm not mistaken, um some of the work that's gone on at Playland and where we are in the progress. If you all recall, we we had the park given uh back to us, or we we went back into operation, operations and maintenance uh in mid to late February of 2025. Um and you know, what we found was not good, and it's taken quite a while to get the rides where they need to be. But in the process, we also have had a lot of capital work done at the park, including most of the uh original historic structures, which includes the colonnades, the towers, uh, many of the buildings that all have the Art Deco style architecture, which it was was uh modern at the time in the 20s. This is historic now, and it's part of our historic landmark status. So we had a good tour. We also uh talked a little bit about you know what it takes to get a ride running and operational, um, especially when there are rye parts that have to be fabricated and or um replaced from overseas, uh, and that the inventory of rye parts is not like going to a car shop and getting tires or or various parts that a lot of them are made for you know smaller amounts or specifically four rides. Uh we also talked a little bit about uh what's going on in the 2026 season. Uh now obviously uh we're in July, so we've been open for for a while. The weather has not cooperated. Um as we might remember um Memorial Day weekend was really rained the entire weekend. Uh the July 4th weekend, we had oppressive heat. Um, and in Rye, we we had a pretty uh bad storm as well on uh Saturday night. Um we had to cancel the fireworks based on the timing of the storm. I was there. The wind was ferocious. Um, you know, we had some trees come down and things, but we're you know, we're we're back open, the amusement park's back open tomorrow. The beach and pool are open seven days a week. Uh the park looks great. Uh we're introducing new rides every week when they're ready to open. Some of the larger rides will be opening in the next few weeks.
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