By:  Serach Nissim

At the famed American Dream Mall waterpark in East Rutherford, New Jersey, an accident injured four people.

As reported by the NY Post, a decorative helicopter figurine fell and crashed into a pool full of children, at DreamWorks Water Park at about 3 p.m. on Sunday.  One person was taken to the hospital, and three others were treated on the scene with light injuries.  None of the victims suffered life-threatening injuries. Authorities have not publicly released the ages of the injured persons. The large display helicopter fell near a kiddy pool area designed for toddlers, a section which is known as, “The Penguins Frozen Fun Zone”.  The water park was evacuated and closed, and police are investigating the incident.

“American dream waterpark (indoor) mall..moments after decor plane falls. No injuries, mad panic. We’re safe,” one park-goer, Miss Markowitz, posted on Twitter, sharing a short video of the crowded waterpark.  Visitors enjoying the water park told the Post they heard a crash and then screams from both parents and kids as panic ensued, while concerned lifeguards rushed to the scene.  “A large helicopter display fell on to a kiddy pool and slide area! Chaos soon after,” Angel Sanchez tweeted alongside photos of the downed copter.  “The sound was scary then the screaming from parents and kids.”

Mall officials closed the park for the rest of the day and said it would remain closed on Monday, despite the busy Presidents Day holiday.  A follow-up showed the waterpark is to remain closed through Wednesday Feb. 22, per the attraction’s website.  The rest of the entertainment complex, including American Dream mall and Nickelodeon Universe theme park, remained open.  “The safety of our guests is our highest priority. We will conduct a thorough investigation into this incident to ensure the park meets all safety regulations as required,” American Dream officials said in a statement to NJ.com.

The DreamsWorks Waterpark is famed as the largest indoor waterpark in North America, boasting 81 degrees Farenheight tropical climate year-round for fun despite the frigid East Coast temperatures.  Attractions include 15 water slides and 15 attractions, including a lazy river and the world’s biggest wave pool—spanning 1.5-acres on its own with 1,500,000 gallons of water.  The waterpark spans a whopping 8.5 acres.  The park also contains the world’s second-tallest body slides, starting from a height of 142 feet, and featuring a 50-foot free fall.  Many of the park’s attractions are themed based on DreamWorks productions—including the Kung Fu Panda Zone, Madagascar Rain Forest, and Shrek’s Soggy Swamp.

The waterpark first opened on October 1, 2020, after numerous delays.  The timing ended up being unfortunate, because the COVID-19 pandemic soon led to extensive closures at the indoor park’s early stages.

The American Dream Mall complex, which officially first opened in October 2019, features a giant luxury shopping complex and entertainment centers including the indoor amusement park named Nickelodeon Universe (featuring two world record-holding roller coasters–The TMNT Shellraiser, a Euro-Fighter), a 16-story indoor ski slope, Skee Golf, a Sealife aquarium, Legoland Discovery Center, an ice skating rink, and an arcade platform named the Venue.  American Dream took nearly two decades to become a reality.  The mall itself boasts roughly 450 shops and over 100 restaurants, including several Kosher options. The recent accident is not the first obstacle for American Dream.

The Covid-19 pandemic not only interrupted and shuttered business for the mall and attractions, it also claimed numerous large tenants.