Sustainable Playland Fund Raiser at Coveleigh CCPatch.comIn addition, while maintaining the sanctity of Edith Read Wildlife Sanctuary, SPI's plan will refine the transition space between the current Amusement Park and the Wildlife Sanctuary so as to increase public access along Long Island Sound. ...Panel to evaluate proposals for NY's PlaylandGreenwich Timeall 2 news articles »

Westchester County's chief official says he expects to hear by June from a committee that will evaluate proposals for "reinventing" Playland, the county-owned amusement park that been a resource for many Connecticut residents through the years.

County Executive Robert Astorino named 19 people to the committee on Tuesday. Proposals from developers are due next week.

The 83-year-old park, on Long Island Sound in Rye several miles south of Greenwich, is a National Historic Landmark.

The county says attendance has dropped by more than half since 2005. Subsidies from taxpayers are getting larger.

The committee includes representatives from business, government, the arts, parks and entertainment, plus a high school student.

Astorino wants the committee to study each proposal for its financial viability and effect on the environment. It also will consider the entertainment value, and whether the person, business or group making the proposal is reliable.

Though some have suggested a private company lease the park from the county and run it, that has been tried in the past and was not successful. The Marriott Corp. managed Playland for two years in the early 1980s, but bowed out after running a $2.6 million operating deficit in the first year and reporting a $3 million deficit the next year.

The park has also doubled as a film set. Tom Hanks filmed scenes for his Oscar-nominated movie "Big" at Playland, and the it served as the amusement park where actress Glenn Close brought Michael Douglas' daughter when she kidnapped her in "Fatal Attraction."

There have also been some tragedies at Playland, including the 2005 death of 7-year-old Jon-Kely Cassara, of Norwalk, who fell and became trapped underneath a conveyer belt on the Ye Old Mill boat ride. In 2009, the Cassaras reached a $1.25 million settlement with the county after suing for negligence.