The closure of DreamWorks water park at American Dream will last longer than anticipated. The mall has announced that it will remain closed until at least Friday. This comes after a decorative helicopter collapsed and injured four park guests, forcing the park to close as state authorities conduct their investigation.
Initially, American Dream announced that the water park would only be closed from Monday to Wednesday. However, the closure has been extended, causing inconvenience to visitors during the busy week with schools closed and families seeking fun activities.
The mishap occurred on Sunday afternoon when the helicopter, which usually hangs from the ceiling of the DreamWorks Water Park, detached and fell into the pool, injuring four park-goers. The park was immediately evacuated and has remained closed since the incident.
While the rest of the mall and its attractions remain open, the water park has been deemed an “unsafe structure” by the Amusement Ride Safety Inspections Unit, an arm of the state Department of Community Affairs. The DCA has ordered the water park to remain closed during the investigation, and there is no estimated timeline for the park to reopen.
According to DCA spokesperson Lisa Ryan, “The DreamWorks Water Park is currently shut down and shall remain shut down pending completion of DCA’s ongoing investigation.”