A version of this story first published in 2018.
Yes, there’s a “day” for everything. So you shouldn’t be surprised that Thursday, July 28, is National Water Park Day.
The day was founded by Kalahari Resorts and Conventions, which has some of the country’s biggest water parks, but was meant to be celebrated by parks both big and small.
While the Garden State has plenty of water in parks, not to mention the Shore, it also has an abundance of water parks and splash pads. Here are some of the best:
Crystal Springs Family Waterpark in East Brunswick. Patti Sapone | NJ Advance Media
The park in East Brunswick has an assortment of types of pools, including a kiddie pool, a lazy river and water slides. The facility, which is run by the town, is also smoke-free, alcohol-free and glass-free and accessible to those with disabilities.
People cool off on a hot, humid day sliding down Shotgun Falls at Morey's Piers' Raging Waters Water Park in Wildwood.Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Morey’s Piers Raging Waters Water Park
Morey’s Piers and Water Parks is a sprawling theme park along the Wildwood beaches, including three piers, two water parks, and several hotel and restaurants.
Clementon Park and Splash World in Clementon. Patti Sapone | NJ Advance Media Patti Sapone | NJ Advance Media
Clementon Park and Splash World
Clementon Park and Splash World is among the oldest operating parks in the state having first opened in 1907. This combination theme and water park offers 19 rides and a full-scale water park. The water park has eight water attractions including three thrill-level slides, a lazy river, a Polynesian-themed adventure area, 23,000 square foot wave pool and other kid-friendly water attractions.
Cochrane Williams and Kimani Blake beat the heat at Runaway Rapids Waterpark in Keansburg. Ed Murray | NJ Advance Media Ed Murray | NJ Advance Media for
Keansburg Amusement Park is one of the oldest parks in the state and still offers some vintage rides. William Gehlhaus purchased waterfront property in 1904 to build a summer resort. By 1910 Gelhaus offered the first ride, a ferry boat to bring visitors from New York City hoping to generate interest in a summer home.
Runaway Rapids Waterpark was added to the amusement park in 1996. Now, there are 23 water attractions and more than 13 waterslides of varying speeds, a lazy river and spa pools.
Children keep cool as they play in the splash park at St. Peter's Park on Lyons Avenue in Newark. Patti Sapone | NJ Advance Media NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
St. Peter’s Park Newark
The City of Newark created recreational offerings within its South Ward neighborhood splash pad. The park located on Lyons Avenue in Newark now includes new landscaping, outdoor murals, a renovated outdoor pool, and an underground water sprinkler.
Tomahawk Lake Waterpark in Sparta. Patti Sapone | NJ Advance MediaPatti Sapone | NJ Advance Media
Tomahawk Lake Water Park waterpark has more of a family campground feel to it. It’s nestled on 200 acres of land in Sparta with an 18-hole miniature golf course, horseshoe pits, softball field, volleyball areas, and picnic area with more than 800 tables.
The park also features a white sand beach and a 20-acre lake for swimming and boating. The park has an old-fashioned family-friendly feel to it. It also offers plenty of slides and rides.
Many of the slides deliver the guests into the lake rather than a chlorinated pool. For younger children, the park has Papoose Land with waters slides and lily pads. Kids can also enjoy Cherokee Corner with a trampoline raft, rolling log and showering canoe.
At OC Waterpark in Ocean City, there are slides for all — from thrill-seekers to little kids. David Gard | For NJ Advance MediaDavid Gard | For NJ Advance Medi
If a day at the beach isn’t enough to get your heart racing, there’s OC Waterpark in Ocean City. There are slides for little kids and slides for thrill seekers, including the Splash Down slide that will drop you in the air only to splash down in a pool. There’s also a lazy river and some miniature golf for those who want to take the day a bit slower.
Children enjoy tubing along the Lazy River at Breakwater Beach Waterpark and Casino Pier in Seaside Heights. Patti Sapone | NJ Advance MediaPatti Sapone | NJ Advance Media
This water park is at Casino Pier in Seaside Heights. While Casino Pier has been around for 86 years, water slides weren’t added until 1982. The park then was called Splashdown. In 1987, it became Water Works, and in 2004 the park was remodeled and it became Breakwater Beach.
There’s Lighthouse Cove for the kindergartners and toddlers and a handful of slides for adults, including one with a 50-foot drop. And like many of the other parks, there’s a lazy river and a water playground. If you want to experience a much smaller beach free of jellyfish, there’s even a wave pool.
Tucked inside the American Dream mall in East Rutherford, DreamWorks is an 8.5 acre, more-than-370,000 square-foot water park, which is now the largest indoor water park in the country. American Dream describes the DreamWorks Water Park as having 40 water slides and 15 attractions.
Inside, you’ll find thrill rides 14 stories high, a multi-level play structure with dump cups, geysers and a tipping bucket. The focus of the indoor facility is the world’s biggest indoor wave pool.
A young boy cools off at Michael Lepp Park & Splash Pad in Somerville. Ed Murray | NJ Advance Media Ed Murray | NJ Advance Media for
The spray park is located on Park Avenue in Somerville, open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., weather permitting. The park offers plenty of room to run around and cool off.
Splashplex Waterpark in East Hanover. Patti Sapone | NJ Advance Media for NJ.comPatti Sapone | NJ Advance Media
Splashplex Waterpark at The Funplex located in East Hanover provides an experience that is fun but not overwhelming and as large as many of the waterparks in the area, according to Amanda Lahn, director of marketing. The Funplex is an excellent option for a family day because it’s a water park, coupled with indoor attractions, virtual reality, arcade games and a cafe.
“The most popular part of Splashplex are the two Hammerhead” speed slides cascading off the 5-story slide tower. Guests can race next to each other, and most can reach the bottom in 6 seconds, Lahn said.
The park offers guests four slides, lazy river tubing, an infinity pool, which the lazy river winds around, an interactive pool with water blasters, hydro tower and splash pad.
Land of Make Believe in Hope. Patti Sapone | NJ Advance Media for NJ.comPatti Sapone | NJ Advance Media
The Land of Make Believe and Pirate’s Cove is a family amusement park as well as a pirate-themed waterpark. The amusement park in Hope opened in August 1954 and has remained a popular family fun destination in the region. “The Land of Make Believe was designed so parents could participate in activities with their children,” said Chris Maier, owner of the park.
The waterpark offers parents the same opportunities to bond with their children in addition to water attractions for thrill seekers.
Pirate’s Cove features various types of slides and the country’s second-largest 20-foot wide river. The Lazy River, a favorite tube rafting ride, makes waves as you float along the river.
Other family types of water attractions are the wading pool which has a life-size pirate ship and small slides. Also, Blackbeard’s Pirate Fort is a water play area with spray guns, water buckets and a large water bucket that chimes when it is ready to drop the water on the guests below.
Are you an adrenaline seeker looking for peak thrills? Dare to try Pirate’s Escape & Pirate’s Revenge or Sidewinder, both dual racing slides.
Sidewinder is a new slide at the park and the only one in the Tri-State area. “This is the ultimate thrill ride,” said Maier. “It’s like going off the edge of the earth,” he added.
A man enjoys a ride down the Big Wave Racer at Six Flags Hurricane Harbor. Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance MediaMichael Mancuso | NJ Advance Med
This is New Jersey’s most popular waterpark, and for good reason. Six Flags Hurricane Harbor, located in Jackson, was recently rated by U.S.News and World Report as one of the best water parks in America.
The 45-acre park offers 12 water attractions, including thrill level slides, family slides, a wave pool, a water playground, a lazy river and a lounge area.
The Big Wave Racer — a four-story, 1,800-foot long slide — is the park’s most popular attraction, according to the waterpark’s website. And why wouldn’t it be? Riders climb four stories, then plunge headfirst down six lanes on water toboggans, racing to see who reaches the bottom first. Maybe not for grandpa, but a hoot for the kids.
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Patti Sapone may be reached at psapone@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Instagram @psapo, Twitter @psapone.
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