Proposed Ideas Demonstrate Community Enthusiasm for a Viable New Multi-Use Entertainment Center in the Previous Wonderland Location
Ocean City 2050 is thrilled to announce the winning submissions to the “Reimagine Wonderland” contest. Ocean City 2050 has also presented a summary of the concepts and proposals to the town’s City Council, showcasing a diverse range of viable, positive, and exciting alternatives for the northern end of the Ocean City boardwalk.
The ideas were submitted in response to the contest launched to encourage discussion around better alternatives to the high-rise, luxury Icona resort proposed for the previous Wonderland amusement park location. Importantly, while many of the ideas gave a nod to the old park,the main themes and approaches proposed a very different kind of venue, with various types of entertainment enabling financial viability. The group also suggested spreading out development costs so no one group would bear too much risk and the opportunity to operate the facility profitably would be greatly enhanced.
Two of the winning concepts reflected a shared vision for a multi-use, flexible entertainment venue that can serve as a vibrant hub for residents and visitors alike. The third winning submission contributed innovative suggestions on how to creatively fund the project, maximize its year-round potential, and ensure that the space is both economically viable and enriching for the community.
The three winning submissions were:
- Mutli-use Entertainment Center #1: The proposal featured a unique concept of an adaptable, multi-use entertainment center with features like revolving food trucks, augmented reality scavenger hunts, light shows and projection mapping, and pop-up and rotating attractions, all conveying a restored Wonderland feel but in a fresh, updated, and current style.
- Mutli-use Entertainment Center #2: The proposal featured pencil drawings of the interior and exterior with both renewed and new structures, while also emphasizing adaptability and new technologies, including an augmented reality enhanced monorail).
- Creative Capital-Raising; The proposal highlighted various ways to raise capital and to offset operating costs; these included “adopting” a horse on the carousel, naming a Ferris Wheel cart after a family member, more enhanced souvenir offerings, photo shoot opportunities, and others.
Jim Kelly, a founding member of Ocean City 2050 noted, “This contest is a reminder to the members of our City Council that there are other viable options for the former amusement space that are more appropriate to our Boardwalk’s character, follow our zoning guidelines, and could bring much-needed entertainment. As part of its decision process, City Council has a responsibility to consider a host of viable alternatives before making any decisions around irreversible changes to the location’s zoning, which would not only change the family-friendly character of our cherished boardwalk but also potentially damage Ocean City’s valued claim as ‘America’s Favorite Family-Friendly’ vacation destination. We hope the City Council considers all its options and the strong feelings of the many Ocean City residents who oppose the idea of enabling the inappropriate placement of a high-rise resort on our boardwalk.”
In the coming weeks, Ocean City 2050 will further develop and advance additional proposals for the property inspired by a number of the contest ideas, including a deeper assessment of their long-term economic feasibility and community benefits. The organization plans to share these detailed plans with the City Council, Eustace Mita, and the community.
The winners were each awarded $1,000 in prize money. In recognition of all the outstanding contributions, the other participants were all provided free movie tickets for the Moorlyn Theater.
“We couldn’t be more proud of our Ocean City community,” continued Mr. Kelly. “The creativity and engagement demonstrated through this contest are a testament to how much our residents care about shaping the future of our town. While we can’t bring Wonderland back, with this contest, we have demonstrated that there are viable, community-driven solutions that deserve serious consideration. We invite City Council, local leaders, and all residents to join us in exploring and championing creative alternatives that will shape Ocean City’s future for generations to come.”
Note: the “Reimagine Wonderland” contest was originally announced in October 2024 by the Friends of Ocean City History & Culture organization, a nonprofit organization committed to preserving, documenting, and celebrating the rich history and culture of Ocean City, NJ. Earlier this month, several members of the “Friends” organization formed a separate and independent fellow neighborhood group – Ocean City 2050 – that would focus more exclusively on public engagement, advocacy, and policy initiatives critical to strengthening the city’s future for all. The “Reimagine Wonderland” contest now falls under the purview of this new organization.
For additional information, visit www.oceancity2050.org, or contact oceancity2050@gmail.com. Also like us on Facebook @ www.facebook.com/oceancity2050.
