A groundbreaking event took place in Atlantic City yesterday, signalling the start of work on Island Waterpark, a $100 million indoor water park on the Boardwalk. This 103,000 square-foot attraction will be home to a range of water slides, including parallel racing slides, as well as pools and a lazy river.
In addition to this, there will be food and drink offerings, shopping, lounge areas and a party space. Plans also include an adults area with a bar, foot massages and manicures.
Bart Blatstein, the Philadelphia developer behind the project, also owns the neighbouring building, the former Showboat casino, which he operates as a non-gambling hotel. The water park is designed to give families something to do year-round in the seaside destination.
More family-friendly attractions for Atlantic City
Speaking at the event, Mayor Marty Small spoke of the importance of giving visitors to Atlantic City a family-friendly, non-gambling option, saying: “We need to diversify our entertainment offerings.”
“We’ve all heard stories of water parks coming here to Atlantic City and for whatever reason, it didn’t happen,” he added. “This is happening.”
Blatstein announced that he wants the water park to be open to the public by May 2023 and repeated the Mayor’s confidence in the project, saying: “It’s my money going into this place. I promise you, it’s going to happen.”
In 2020, the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority approved the designation of the plot as an entertainment retail district. This means that it will benefit from an annual rebate of up to $2.5 million in sales tax generated by it, for two decades.
So that it can entertain guests in all seasons, Island Waterpark will also feature a retractable glass-paned roof that covers the whole development. The architect is SOSH Architects and interior work will be done by Martin Aquatic Design & Engineering, a world-class aquatic firm.
Elsewhere, New Jersey’s Diggerland USA has expanded its new water park. New additions such as a wave pool and a crossing activity will be open to guests when the park’s gates open for the season in March 2022.
Image courtesy of SOSH Architects
