JERSEY SHORE – Boardwalk attractions new and old help mold the landscape of the summer season, leaving fond and special memories for children and adults alike. Both Seaside boardwalks have some attractions that fit that description – a water park that just opened while a historic carousel will reopen in the months ahead.
The latest addition to the area is Seaspray Park, a new 5,000-square-foot spray park prominently located on the boardwalk between Seaside Heights and Seaside Park.
A grand opening event was held on July 6 with family-friendly activities, deals and some splashing fun and it helped to kick off the summer season.
The attraction comes complete with slides, a Mega Bucket Dump, Fun Bus, cascading water flowers, water slides and other water features. The facility also offers families another place to cool off and have fun to beat the summer heat. The facility is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
“We are so proud to bring a vibrant, fun and safe entertainment option to our part of the Jersey boardwalk with the opening of Seaspray Park,” owner DJ D’Onofrio said.
Children and their parents enjoy some water and splashing at Seaspray Park a new attraction on the Seaside Park boardwalk. (Photo by Bob Vosseller)
He described it as “a place for families to gather, beat the heat, enjoy some lunch and take in the beauty of the boardwalk and the Jersey shore that we all love so much.”
He is no newcomer to the area. D’Onofrio is the owner of the iconic boardwalk restaurant The Sawmill which is just a few steps away.
There is a menu at the Seaspray Park Snack Shack that includes burgers, chicken fingers, salads, ice cream and beverages.
Borough Mayor John Peterson and several members of the council were present for the kickoff. The mayor brought some large sheers to cut the ribbon. “We are very happy to welcome another new business and it is a symbol of the rejuvenation and rebuilding after Superstorm Sandy and the fire.”
Vivian Alessio, left joins her brother Frankie Alessio and Salvatore Herbert who were enjoying their first time at Seaspray Park on the Seaside Park boardwalk recently. (Photo by Bob Vosseller)
The site previously housed some shops and small stands. The new attraction opened on Memorial Day weekend.
“It is our first year. I have no experience in running a venue like this,” D’Onofrio said. “Give me a restaurant, I got that – but this is different and we’re learning as we go along and we’re doing well.”
Ocean County Tourism Advisory Council Division Director Sandra Lazzaro presented D’Onofrio with a framed certificate from the county. She noted attractions like this that bring in tourists “are the backbone of Ocean County. This is what drives our economic engine.”
Holding signs near the ribbon cutting arc were a trio of children from Nutley: Salvatore Herbert, 6, Frankie Alessio 3, and his younger sister Vivian Alessio who are staying at their grandparents’ home in Ortley Beach. Their mom said this was their first visit to Seaspray Park. “We’re having fun,” she said.
On the other end of the boardwalk in Seaside Heights is the site of the historic Dentzel-Looff carousel.
Not too crabby! This pair of Seaspray promoters didn’t mind being dressed up as crabs for the day. (Photo by Bob Vosseller)
The vintage attraction that dates back to the 1910s will revolve once again but not as soon as officials had hoped. They were planning for its reopening at its new location to be this summer. The target date for that was July 25, National Carousel Day.
Some work still has to be performed before the famed carousel is available to the public.
In 2021, it was taken apart and some of its pieces were placed in a local commercial storage facility while other pieces were sent to Ohio to be restored.
The restoration involved the repainting of the horses, carriages and other features of the carousel. The restoration work is a service offered by a single company and they only work on one carousel at a time.
Another obstacle is the New Jersey inspection process. New Jersey is one of only a few states that require inspections and certifications for amusement rides to operate, and there is backlog. There is a limited number of state employees responsible for those inspections.
Seaside Park Mayor John Peterson sports large silver scissors to cut the ribbon for the grand opening ceremony of Seaspray Park on the borough boardwalk. He joined members of the Borough Council, Ocean County Business Development and Tourism/Ocean County Tourism Advisory Council Division Director Sandra Lazzaro and Seaspray owner DJ D’Onofrio. (Photo by Bob Vosseller)
Seaside Heights Mayor Tony Vaz said a different celebration is now being planned for sometime this fall.
According to Lavallette, Ortley Beach and Seaside ShoreBeat, the Borough’s planning board recently approved two attractions that will be based on a vacant pier on the south side of the boardwalk.
The Board approved the addition of a four-way bungee trampoline attraction and a separate “animal scooter” ride to the Dupont Avenue pier for the rest of the summer. It is expected that next year, the pier will have a restaurant, which had been approved back in 2020.
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