Days away from closing, Playland park in Fresno is saved for six months. What we know

Fresno’s Playland is getting reprieve, just as it was planning its farewell weekend.

In a series of social media posts Thursday, Playland announced it will remain open and operational through June as it continues to deal with the operational costs and marketing of the nearly 70-year-old amusement park inside Roeding Park.

The park has been struggling with low attendance and a lack of fundraising, despite an infusion of money and expertise from Helm and Sons Amusements, which took over operations of the park in June. The company spent more than $600,000 in facility upgrades and repairs and brought in several new attractions, including a massive gondola Ferris wheel.

Still, Playland struggled to meet even its employee payroll, and first hinted at a closure in October.

Jan. 13-14 would have been its final weekend.

Playland said it has a new agreement that will keep it open through the end of June, “to give the park time to continue to develop into a self-sustaining facility.”

The deal followed an emergency meeting with the board of the nonprofit that oversees the park (as well as its sister park, Storyland). The nonprofit will help with a plan “for the overall operational costs, developmental marketing plan and infrastructure” that the park needs to remain open.

There will be several new marketing and operational strategies, according to the post.

Beginning Jan. 18, Playland will be open noon to 8 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays and 10 to 8 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, with hours available for school tours on Wednesdays. Admission will be $10 for all ages, with half-off admissions on Thursdays. A $25 monthly unlimited pass will also be available.

“Without our community’s support,” the park wrote, “this valued treasure could one day be lost.”