It’s Memorial Day weekend and the beaches in Rye, two of the only public access points to the Long Island Sound between the Bronx and Connecticut, have opened for the summer. Oakland Beach in Rye Town Park was the first to allow beachgoers to dip their toes in the Long Island Sound, opening on Friday. Playland Beach, the Westchester County Park operated by Standard Amusements in conjunction with the amusement park, opened Saturday. The two beaches are adjacent to each other but sometimes feel a world apart.
Plenty of people were on the scene at both locations on Saturday, enjoying the warm May weather. Playland’s pool also opened simultaneously with its beach, to the delight of several families with children. Playland Beach has brought back its massive blue Mega Play! Slide and once again has its umbrella and lounge chair rental program. Saturday was also the first of five summer dates Playland is offering ferry service to and from New York City, on the heels of testing the service last summer.
Rye Town Park’s beach has rolled out its bright blue access mats on the sand to improve accessibility and is continuing its kayak rentals for those wanting to explore the Sound. The park boasts new native plantings to welcome pollinators and human guests, courtesy of the Friend of Rye Town Park and the group’s Chief Gardening Officer Lucy Berkoff. You can see the plantings outside the tower building, alongside a new flagpole and several bright red Adirondack chairs made from recycled materials. “We have a brand new aluminum flagpole up there, which everybody is thrilled with,” Rye Town Park Director Russ Gold told MyRye.com. “The whole place has been relandscaped [as well].”
Sorting out the pricing to enjoy these Long Island Sound gems is a bit of a puzzle – it depends if you are a local, a County or a non-resident, and if you are coming on a weekday, weekend or holiday. Parking is extra, and there are lots of add ons.
Here is an overview of the major items and rate categories:
| Item | Playland Beach and Pool | Rye Town Park Oakland Beach |
| Beach Access | $9.99 | n/a |
| Beach & Pool Combo | $14.99 | n/a |
| Mega Play!Slide add-on | $5.00 | n/a |
| Beach Access – weekday resident | n/a | $6.00 |
| Beach Access – weekend resident | n/a | $12.00 |
| Beach Access – holiday resident | n/a | $15.00 |
| Beach Access – weekday non-resident | n/a | $15.00 |
| Beach Access – weekend non-resident | n/a | $20.00 |
| Beach Access – holiday non-resident | n/a | $25.00 |
| Parking weekday | $20.00 | $15.00 |
| Parking weekend | $20.00 | $25.00 |
| Parking Holiday | $30.00 | $35.00 |
| Unlimited parking pass | $45.00 | n/a |
| Parking 6pm to close – weekdays and weekend | n/a | $5.00 |
| Parking 6pm to close – holidays | n/a | $15.00 |
| All season pass (unlimited visits and access to Playland Amusement Park, Beach & Pool, Lake Paddle Boats, FREE Parking, and 10% off select products) | $150.00 | n/a |
| Resident permit (individual) beach & parking | n/a | $182.00 |
| Non-resident (individual) beach & parking | n/a | $467.00 |
senior rates
Rye town beach
RESIDENT PERMIT RATES
Senior Permit – $41.00 (includes parking & beach)
NON-RESIDENT PERMIT RATES
Senior Permit – $182.00 (includes parking & beach); $122 (Beach Only)