2nd mask requirement lawsuit filed against Kennywood, Sandcastle, Idlewild

Parents of three children filed a lawsuit Friday in Westmoreland County against Kennywood, Sandcastle Waterpark and Idlewild & SoakZone, claiming they were improperly excluded from the amusement parks in 2020 for not wearing masks.

The claims follow nearly identical allegations raised in a still-pending federal lawsuit filed by the same plaintiffs against the parks two summers ago.

Friday’s lawsuit claims the parks violated the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act when they failed to follow state policy in 2020 that exempted those with medical conditions from the mask-wearing requirements set by the state during the early months of the coronavirus pandemic.

“Kennywood, Sandcastle and Idlewild simply did not want to be bothered with the exception, despite the fact that it had no basis to conclude that plaintiffs were a direct threat to the health and safety of others,” according to the new lawsuit.

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Janine Wood of Bolivar, Jackie Webber of Kennedy Township, Ryan Walsh of Verona and Lisa Mazzoni of Irwin and their children.

It alleges the children suffered from medical ailments that prevented them from wearing masks. Several of the parents also claim they had medical reasons to exempt them from the park’s mask mandates.

Nick Paradise, spokesman for Palace Entertainment, the Pittsburgh company that operates the three parks, said he could not comment on pending litigation.

Masks will not be required when Kennywood opens April 16 and for the season openings of Idlewild on May 7 and Sandcastle on May 21, Paradise said.

“Since the start, we’ve been following CDC guidelines and state policies,” Paradise said.