The DreamWorks Water Park at American Dream Meadowlands in East Rutherford, New Jersey, was built as part of the larger American Dream shopping and entertainment complex. The water park’s construction and opening timeline spanned several years, with various delays and setbacks along the way.
What Was the Construction Timeline for DreamWorks Water Park?
The construction timeline for the DreamWorks Water Park can be summarized as follows:
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 2004 | The original groundbreaking for the American Dream Meadowlands project took place. |
| 2011 | The New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority formalized an agreement with Triple Five Group, which assumed ownership of the mall and renamed it “American Dream”. |
| 2013 | PCL Construction began its contract for the project. |
| 2016 | Triple Five announced that the indoor amusement park space would be occupied by Nickelodeon Universe, and that DreamWorks Animation would work in partnership to develop the water park. |
| 2018 | Triple Five stated that the water park would open by the end of 2019. |
| 2019 | – September: The mall’s vice president of Communications announced that the water park would open on November 27, 2019. – October: Surfers began testing the 1.5-acre wave pool. – November: The water park’s opening was delayed due to undisclosed reasons. |
| 2020 | – February 25: The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs announced that 18 of the 27 rides at the park had been inspected and approved for opening. – February 27: DreamWorks Water Park announced an opening date of March 19, 2020, but this was later delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. – September 3: American Dream announced the new opening date for the water park. – October 1: DreamWorks Water Park officially opened to the public. |
When Did DreamWorks Water Park Officially Open?
The original opening date for the DreamWorks Water Park was planned for November 27, 2019, but it was delayed several times due to various reasons, including the COVID-19 pandemic. The water park officially opened to the public on October 1, 2020.
What Is the Historical Context and Milestones of the DreamWorks Water Park?
The DreamWorks Water Park is part of the larger American Dream shopping and entertainment complex, which has a long and complex history:
- Proposed in 1994: The American Dream shopping mall was first proposed as Meadowlands Mills in 1994 and underwent several name changes and ownership shifts before its eventual completion.
- Delayed in 2009: The project was initially delayed due to a lack of funding in 2009.
- DreamWorks Animation Involvement: In July 2012, DreamWorks Animation CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg announced that some of the amusement attractions would be themed upon DreamWorks productions.