Government

Seaside Heights Awards Contract for Inclusive Bayfront Playground, Restroom Construction

by
Daniel Nee
July 17, 2025

Renderings of the planned ‘inclusive playground’ in Seaside Heights, N.J. (Credit: Borough of Seaside Heights)

After a lengthy planning and bidding process dating back more than a year, Seaside Heights officials on Wednesday were finally able to award a contract to start construction on the state-funded inclusive playground at Sunset Beach – the borough’s bay beach off Route 35.

The borough council unanimously awarded a $746,678 contract to Gavan General Contracting, which will build the unique playground in the coming weeks. Last year, the borough was awarded a $750,000 grant from the state’s “Jake’s Law” program to build the playground, adjacent sitting area and restrooms near the Stewart’s Root Beer stand at the bay beach. The law refers to a program aimed at funding the construction of parks that are suited for use by both children with disabilities as well as their typical peers, recognizing that “accessible” playgrounds of the past rarely attracted those without handicaps, while traditional playgrounds were inaccessible. The design of an “inclusive” playground ensures that the equipment and layout is fun for all children, with special features added to allow disabled access.

“There was a lot of red tape, but we got through it, and I’m really hoping it will go quickly from here,” said Mayor Anthony Vaz.

Renderings of the planned ‘inclusive playground’ in Seaside Heights, N.J. (Credit: Borough of Seaside Heights)

Equipment proposed for a new ‘inclusive playground’ at Sunset Beach in Seaside Heights. (Photo: Seaside Heights Borough)

The borough had hoped the playground would be completed by the start of the 2025 summer season, however last-minute issues with the exact location, restrooms and the bidding process itself took longer than expected to resolve. The borough finally considered the option of having its own employees build the playground, which would have taken longer since the project would have been in addition to their usual duties around town. Despite the delays, borough officials believe the playground can now be built quickly with the selection of a qualified private firm.

The playground itself will include many features that can be found in most playgrounds like swingsets, however they will be designed specifically to be accessible – and fun, of course – for all children. A spin-around attraction will even allow wheelchairs to be loaded into the carrier for a quick ride, and “transfer decks” would likewise allow wheelchair access to swings and slides. The playground will also include spinning animal attractions, as well as sensory-optimized activities for children with autism and similar disabilities, plus revised grading to make the park accessible for all. The restroom facility will also be fully accessible.

Renderings of the planned ‘inclusive playground’ in Seaside Heights, N.J. (Credit: Borough of Seaside Heights)

Equipment proposed for a new ‘inclusive playground’ at Sunset Beach in Seaside Heights. (Photo: Seaside Heights Borough)

A major part of the construction effort would be to re-grade the site so it is easily accessible to all, said project engineer Mark Lennon, who prepared an environmental impact statement required by the state.

“In this case, the project site was developed with a better foundation which addresses both the ADA compliance issue and the environmental issue,” said Lennon. “We have a barrier-free access between the boardwalk and the playground surface, and it has the benefit of getting us up out of the water by about 24-inches. The instances of flooding like we’ve seen in the last few weeks would be mitigated.”

The park’s design was significantly influenced by Borough Planner Jennifer Gorini, who led public meetings and solicited public input to help plan the park’s layout and submit the funding application to the state.