Local Author of Recently Published Book Images of America - Playland Provides Historical Perspective on Americas Only Publicly Owned Amusement Park

7/11/2008 4:14:38 PM

Who:  Kathryn Burke, author of Images of America – Playland

What: The author will provide an overview of her recently published pictorial history  of Playland to the Government Operations (GO) Committee meeting

When:  Tuesday, July 15, 2008 at 1:00 PM

Where:   Westchester County Board of Legislators, Committee Conference Room, 8th floor, Michaelian Office Building, 148 Martine Avenue, White Plains

Why:   The GO Committee has oversight responsibility for Playland. In an odd twist of fate, on May 19, the day the County Board approved bonding legislation for $8.8 million to finance the restoration of the Bathhouse Building at Rye Playland, Burke’s book on historic Playland was put on sale by Arcadia Publishing.

Before the May 19th vote, in urging his colleagues to approve the restoration,  GO Committee Chair Ken Jenkins said, ”After hearing the proposal and actually visiting the site, it became clear that this particular structure is not just a building, it is an important part of our county’s history. This restoration fulfills our duty to preserve an important part of our local heritage.”
Ms. Burke’s book provides the historical context underpinning the Board’s decision to go forward with the restoration which will preserve the 1928 Spanish Revival Style Bathhouse before it deteriorated beyond a salvageable state and will return the 80-year old structure to a the public’s use for at least another 50 years.