Ocean City Approves $7.5M Renovation for Sandcastle Park Recreation Complex
The makeover includes five pickleball courts, six tennis courts, two basketball courts, updated lighting, and a dunk court. Workers will install a rubberized playground surface as well.
Ocean City officials greenlit a $7.5 million bond ordinance to pay for upgrades at Sandcastle Park Recreation Complex, located at 34th Street and West Avenue. Work begins in fall 2026.
The makeover includes five pickleball courts, six tennis courts, two basketball courts, updated lighting, and a dunk court. Workers will install a rubberized playground surface to cushion falls and prevent injuries.
Cape May County is chipping in $3.5 million through grants, Mayor Jay Gillian announced on Oct. 24, 2025. City council members voted yes on the bond earlier this month.
A multipurpose building will house restrooms, meeting rooms, and spaces where people can gather. Plans include a picnic pavilion, a small outdoor stage, and shade structures.
Supply-chain problems could delay playground equipment delivery. City leaders chose to delay construction until fall so the playground stays open during peak summer months.
One source pegged the total cost at $6.5 million. Multiple other sources confirmed the bond ordinance at $7.5 million.
Sandcastle Park has drawn families and children from across South Jersey for three decades, making it one of the region's most-visited playgrounds. The site received improvements in 2009, but this renovation is more extensive.
