Marine Park

Red Bank, a quaint, family-oriented borough off the waters of New Jersey’s Navesink River, has long relied on Marine Park as a community gathering place for concerts, festivals, and everyday waterfront access just steps from downtown. After Hurricane Sandy damaged the park’s clay tennis courts, parking lot, and walkways, the Borough saw an opportunity to rethink the full 2.2-acre site—not simply to repair it, but to restore it as a stronger public destination centered on more green space, improved river access, and flexible areas for both daily use and major community events. In its Marine Park Improvement Project, Red Bank sought to transform its historic waterfront hub into a modern, inclusive, and sustainable park, anchored by a large playground that reflects the Borough’s commitment to accessibility, family recreation, and the long-term vitality of its riverfront. By working with KOMPAN, Red Bank's vision comes to life through a destination playground, featuring a striking Quad Cube tower, an Explorer Ship that nods to the nearby marina, and a variety of freestanding inclusive play experiences woven throughout the space that lets children and families play together.

Marine Park Playground is designed as a shared play environment where children of different ages and abilities can play together in meaningful ways. In the 5–12 play area, a 30-foot-tall Quad Cube Tower and a mobility device-accessible Explorer Ship create the main destinations within the space, encouraging climbing, imaginative role play, social interaction, and different ways to participate. Children can choose their own level of challenge through Hill Climber Ropes, a Double Hill Climber Rope, Climbing Cleats, and Tunnel Bridges, while embankment slides in both 3-foot and 6-foot heights are built into the landscape to provide repeatable sliding experiences that reward effort and encourage interaction. A Double Zipline brings speed and excitement for children seeking more thrill, while nearby swings, including ADA-friendly seating, add a familiar play experience that can be enjoyed at either a calm or more active pace.

Younger children have a dedicated play space of their own in the 2–5 area, where three Robinia Village play huts invite social play, imaginative exploration, and early motor skill development. Infant swings offer age-appropriate movement experiences that help build balance, coordination, and sensory regulation, while the Oasis Boat with Sail extends the site’s waterfront character into the play experience and welcomes children with mobility, sensory, or cognitive differences. Together, these elements give younger children a playful, approachable environment that feels connected to the larger playground while supporting their developmental needs.

Greener playground production practices were an important consideration in the design of Marine Park Playground. The wooden, nature-based play areas feature KOMPAN’s Robinia hardwood, sourced from responsibly managed forestry and selected for its natural durability without the need for chemical wood preservatives. These “Born Green” structures are complemented by “Made Green” components manufactured using recycled materials, including post-consumer sources such as discarded fishing nets, used textiles, and household plastic waste. Together, these material choices support Red Bank’s goal of creating a durable playground with a reduced material impact, while maintaining the safety, longevity, and play value expected in a busy public waterfront park.