Initial phase of Northside Park playground upgrades complete, officials say move increases safety

OCEAN CITY, Md.- After 21 years, the Northside Park playground in Ocean City has gotten a makeover. The town of Ocean City and the Parks and Recreation Department held a ribbon cutting ceremony to unveil park upgrades Tuesday morning.

A $265,000 grant from Maryland Community Parks and Playgrounds made this possible.

We’re told phase 1 of the project focused on structural repairs and addressing safety issues. Those upgrades include new slides, bridges, interactive play panels, and more.

OC Park Superintendent Gary Collier tells us the goal was to increase social play and physical activity for kids. ‘You have people who are out with their children for leisure and looking to allow them get on a piece of play equipment to interact with other kids and develop their social skills. That’s one of the great opportunities of having the play equipment at Northside Park is to bring them together,” Collier said.

Those upgrades also follow ADA guidelines to make the space inclusive for all.

We’re told phase 2 of the project will focus on building out the parks current ramp system.