This week, fierce winds wreaked havoc on a historic music tower at a well-loved amusement park in Westchester County, officials reported, leaving its interior vulnerable to the elements.
Playland Park, renowned for its nearly century-old architecture, saw its iconic tower stripped of large sections of stucco and foam due to a storm that swept through the New York metropolitan area overnight into Tuesday, as noted in a social media update from the park.
Originally constructed in 1928, the music tower has been a staple since the park’s inception and underwent its most recent restoration approximately two decades ago.
In recent years, the aging park has faced significant renovation needs, requiring investments potentially totaling tens of millions of dollars. Earlier this year, the beloved Dragon Coaster underwent much-needed repairs.
Last year, management of the park reverted to the county after Standard Amusements, a private company that had managed the site for decades, terminated its agreement, leading to a legal dispute.
On Tuesday, photographs by The Journal News captured workers clearing debris from the area surrounding the damaged tower.
But the setback isn’t expected to slow Playland’s expected opening date, scheduled for May 23.
“We are assessing the Tower but there will be no delay or postponement of activities or operations during the upcoming 2026 season,” said Peter Tartaglia, the first deputy commissioner of the county’s parks department, according to the outlet.
He noted the tower is where music piped into the park was originally broadcast, but today tunes and announcements boom from a speaker system.
The area behind the tower is closed to cars and pedestrians until an assessment can take place, according to the county.
