When it comes to getting out of your comfort zone and experiencing the ultimate adrenaline rush, few things can compare to the amazing adventures on offer at WildPlay Jones Beach, an adventure park on the Jones Beach boardwalk that takes you out of your comfort zone to experience aerial thrills in a safe environment.

 

Some of the death-defying (not really!) obstacles at WildPlay include walking across tightropes, climbing up cargo nets, flying through the air on rope swings, leaping onto swinging logs, balancing on wobbly bridges, and much, much more. WildPlay is located on the main boardwalk and is accessed by parking at field four, although it is easily accessible from fields five and six as well. Recommended age is five and up.

 

 

Adam Karp, general manager of WildPlay Jones Beach, has been working at adventure parks and climbing-related industries for about 13 years now, having first discovered rope courses when he was in summer camp; later, after returning home from college, he would manage a climbing gym in Melville called Gravity Vault. Needless to say, climbing and navigating myriad obstacles and rope courses is something that’s truly in his blood.  

 

Karp said that WildPlay may look intimidating at first glance, but for those with the nerve to try something different will find rewards in terms of not only breakneck fun, and even some serious confidence-building as well. 

 

“We're here to help you test your comfort zone, and experience what you can do with different types of obstacles, ranging from giant zip lines to a 40-foot drop, among many other things,” he said. “I’m attracted to it because I like challenging myself and helping people via the obstacles that we have, and they can have a really big impact upon people outside of the park as well. When we get someone to experience something that they never thought that they would ever be able to do, it’s like nothing you’ve ever felt. It’s really metaphoric for life and the things that are holding you back…don’t limit yourself or tell yourself that there’s something that you can’t do.”

 

WildPlay originally opened up for business in 2019, but unfortunately were forced to cut their 2020 season short due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. However, with vaccination rates going up and positivity rates going down, WildPlay is looking forward to having a full season of fun and excitement in 2022.

 

 

And as for anyone who may be experiencing some degree of trepidation in regards to scaling a tightrope or traversing a rope cargo net, Karp is adamant about the fact that WildPlay puts the safety of their guests first and foremost before anything else.

 

“Our biggest priority is to make sure that we do everything in our power to prevent accidents, and to that end WildPlay is actually much safer than many everyday activities that you normally may engage in,” he said. “We have an amazing track record, and we’ve never had any big accidents. The safety cables that we use to support our customers are capable of suspending a truck, so WildPlay is very, very safe.”

 

“Being at Jones Beach with the wind and everything and the fact that we specialize in taking people 30 feet in the air, it’s very easy to stay away from people who aren’t in your group,” he said. “We also use all recommended safety gear and sanitizer to keep everyone safe and healthy.”

 

 

The thrill of adventure parks and conquering difficult obstacles have been a driving factor throughout Karp’s life, and to be able to achieve the rare goal of being able to do what he loves for a living each and every day – especially in the form of WildPlay Jones Beach – is truly a wonderful feeling, he said.

 

“It’s literally a dream come true…it’s not just that I get to do what I love so much, but the fact that I get to do it at Jones Beach of all places,” he said. “I’m a local here – I come from Farmingdale – so I remember all the iterations of the different playgrounds that used to be here when I was a kid, and it’s funny that my path over the years would lead me back home and to the biggest playground that I could ever imagine.”

 

To find out more about WildPlay Jones Beach, please visit wildplay.com/jones-beach.