Ocean County officials held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on November 6 to mark the opening of the remodeled “Slide City” playground at Ocean County Park in Lakewood. The event was attended by Ocean County Commissioner Robert S. Arace, Chairman of the Ocean County Department of Parks and Recreation, along with Commissioners Jennifier Bacchione and Frank Sadeghi, County Administrator Michael J. Fiure, local officials from Lakewood Township, and Mary Jane Bavais, Director of the Parks Department.
“Ocean County Park is one of our most loved and historic parks, and a place that families have been coming to for generations,” said Arace. “The enhancements we’re celebrating today build on that legacy, ensuring that this park continues to meet the needs of the families who use it every day.”
The upgraded playground includes double the number of slides compared to its previous design and introduces a dual zipline stretching nearly 1,000 feet. An outdoor gym area has also been added to provide exercise opportunities for visitors of all ages. Features such as rubber surfacing, ADA-accessible walkways, and ground-level play equipment aim to make the playground inclusive for people with different abilities.
Funding for the $1.59 million project came from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), which was enacted in March 2021 to support recovery efforts from the COVID-19 pandemic across the United States. ARPA funds have been used throughout Ocean County to enhance public spaces with a focus on accessibility and community enjoyment.
The design for “Slide City” was provided by Kompan Inc., while Buzz Burger Construction handled installation.
“This is part of our ongoing commitment to enhancing, expanding, and modernizing our parks to ensure they remain vibrant and meaningful spaces for the community,” said Arace. “Our Parks Department has done an outstanding job putting these opportunities to good use for the benefit of our residents.”
Recent upgrades by the Ocean County Department of Parks and Recreation include new playgrounds at several other county parks: Patriots County Park in Jackson Township; Freedom Field County Park in Little Egg Harbor; Beaver Dam Creek County Park in Point Pleasant; Tip Seaman County Park in Tuckerton; Lake Shenandoah County Park in Lakewood; Mill Creek County Park in Berkeley Township; and Eno’s Pond County Park in Lacey Township. Additional improvements are underway at Cattus Island County Park in Toms River, with plans for a new playground at Matthews Mckinley Park in Lakewood.
“The staff in the Ocean County Parks and Recreation Department does a tremendous job maintaining the 4,000-acre park system operated by the County,” said Arace. “Thank you again to Mary Jane and to our Parks team for their outstanding work, and thank you to our residents for your continued support and appreciation of these spaces.”
