After weeks of uncertainty and political drama, an iconic local amusement park is finally reopening for the season.

Rye Playland opens for free on Saturday for the Memorial Day weekend, but that doesn't mean the opening didn't come with any hurdles. An emergency order was issued to expedite the opening of the amusement park's 2025 season. The order allowed the county to hire Zamperla Inc. to do emergency work to inspect, repair and maintain the rides at the park.

That decision comes as officials navigate a legal dispute with the park's former operator, Standard Amusements, a company that county officials say left Playland in poor condition. Officials from Standard Amusements say they "significantly improved Playland and prioritized the maintenance of the park."

However, County Executive Ken Jenkins says it's unclear how many rides will be running this weekend.

"The rides that'll be open will be subject to whatever rules and regulations that the state comes out under [the] Department of Labor...but that's ultimately the state's decision," he said.

Meanwhile, Christine Sculti, the Republican candidate for Westchester County Executive, said Jenkins undid the operating agreement with Standard Amusements that was put into place by former County Executive Rob Astorino. She also claimed a failed 2019 litigation of the agreement cost taxpayers close to $10 million in legal fees.

"Frankly, there's just no better example than the collapse of the Playland operating agreement with Standard Amusements, which has resulted in a whopping $186 million in debt service," she said.

In response, Jenkins says it was a poorly structured agreement that aimed to privatize more than manage money.

"As a board of legislators member in 2016, I voted against that agreement because I believe it did not serve the best interest of Westchester taxpayers or families," he said. "The bottom line is that we know we have spent over $150 million of all of our money investing in Playland, so we know that investment will be well-maintained and move forward."

The opening ceremony for Rye Playland will take place on Saturday at 11 a.m. at the front gate.