Ocean City’s Sandcastle Park to Begin Rehabilitation
Ocean City, New Jersey, has big plans for its municipal playground. Sandcastle Park, as the playground on 34th Street is known, is expected to receive significant improvements this fall, with…
Ocean City, New Jersey, has big plans for its municipal playground.
Sandcastle Park, as the playground on 34th Street is known, is expected to receive significant improvements this fall, with completion anticipated for the beginning of the summer 2026 season.
On Tuesday, Aug. 26, the playground project received a significant boost of momentum when the Cape May County Board of Commissioners greenlighted an agreement with Ocean City for $2.5 million in County Open Space Board funding for the playground's rehabilitation.
“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 spokesperson Doug Bergen told OCNJDaily.
According to the Cape May County Board of Commissioners, the project's cost is estimated at $6.5 million. The city anticipates issuing a bid request during the fall for the construction contract.
Per OCNJDaily, the playground project will comprehensively refurbish the existing site with the following enhancements:
- Five new pickleball courts
- Six tennis courts
- Two basketball courts
- A dunk court
- Installation of a rubberized playground surface to protect children from injuries
Additionally, a new multipurpose building will feature meeting rooms, restrooms, and social spaces. A picnic pavilion and shade structure will be another component of the project, as previously announced by the city.
Dan Kelchner, the city's director of Community Services, told OCNJDaily that the playground will reach beyond Ocean City residents and connect the playground to other parts of Cape May County.
According to Ocean City Historical Museum records, the Sandcastle Park playground area has supported public recreation for the community since 1948.
