Ocean City playground to undergo dramatic makeover

Ocean City is planning something that promises to be far more elaborate than just a simple revamp or facelift for its municipal playground on 34th Street.

What has been described by city officials as a “reimagining” of Sandcastle Park, as the playground is officially known, is expected to get underway this fall and be completed in time for the summer season of 2026.

The project received a boost on Tuesday when the Cape May County Board of Commissioners approved an agreement with Ocean City for $2.5 million in County Open Space Board funding for the playground’s reconstruction.

“Ocean City is grateful to the County Open Space Board for investing in the improvement of this exceptional recreational facility, which serves all Cape May County residents and sits at a key intersection of county roads – West Avenue (Ocean Drive) and 34th Street (Roosevelt Boulevard),” city spokesman Doug Bergen said in an email Thursday.

Overall, the project’s cost is estimated at $6.5 million. The city plans to go out to bid in the fall for the construction contract.

    Children's playground equipment is a major part of the 34th Street playground and will get a refresh.
  

The $2.5 million grant from the County Open Space Board is the maximum amount that the board can approve for a municipal project. The city will pay for the rest of the playground’s reconstruction.

The playground will receive a dramatic overhaul encompassing the entire site bordered by 34th Street and West Avenue. The reconstruction project will allow the playground to continue as a centerpiece of the city’s recreation facilities.

The project will include five new pickleball courts, six tennis courts, two basketball courts, a dunk court and a large playground with a rubberized surface to protect children from injuries.

There will also be a new multipurpose building containing restrooms, meeting rooms and socialization space. A picnic pavilion and shade structure will be another part of the project, according to plans announced earlier by the city.

During a presentation to the County Open Space Board in April, city officials said the new playground and recreation facilities will have lights to allow children and adults to use them at night. They indicated there will be a cutoff time, perhaps 8:30 p.m. or 9 p.m., each night for the complex.

    A rendering shows the different elements of the estimated $6.5 million makeover for the 34th Street playground and related recreation facilities. (Courtesy of Engineering Design Associates)
  

As is the case now, the playground and related facilities will be available to all members of the public once the project is finished.

Dan Kelchner, the city’s director of Community Services, said the playground will reach beyond Ocean City residents and serve as a connecting point to other parts of Cape May County.

As an example of the playground’s broader use, Kelchner noted that the city will continue to work with the Special Olympics organization in South Jersey to bring events to Ocean City.

Once the playground is rebuilt, the city hopes that the new pickleball courts will serve as the site for the Special Olympics’ regional pickleball competition, Kelchner said.

Records held by the Ocean City Historical Museum indicate that the Sandcastle Park playground area has been used as a public recreation site since 1948.

Over the years, new attractions have been added, but the playground and its related facilities are tired looking these days.

“The complex has been in continuous use as a recreational center since 1948, but much of the current equipment and facilities have reached the end of their useful life. The planned improvements will allow the area to remain a community hub with great new amenities and activities for residents and visitors of all ages,” Bergen said.

    New tennis, basketball and pickleball courts are in the plans for the 34th Street playground.