what a better idea looks like

Big wonder. Small scale. Built to last. This is not the old Wonderland.

It’s something entirely new—but joyfully familiar.

This boutique-style amusement park is designed especially for young children and families. No towering thrill rides here—only charm, creativity, and moments of pure delight. Protected by hedges and whimsical walls from the remainder of the commons, it is a safe haven for our smallest visitors.

Think balloon animals and face paint. Arts & crafts booths. Clowns and storybook characters. Classic kiddie rides and carnival snacks. A place where everything feels safe, simple, and filled with wonder.

The park is filled with Wonderland ephemera—from restored signage to vintage ride pieces to playful tributes to Ocean City’s amusement history. The result? A place that feels instantly magical. Kids will be in awe. So will their parents and grandparents. And—quietly—so will the accountants.

Because behind the scenes, this park is as smart as it is sweet.

It’s funded in part by charitable grants and community support, reducing upfront debt.

It is also built in a way that allows the operator to employ varying ticket purchasing models, from full admission, to wristband, to smartphone, or a hybrid model, that helps ensure predictability and sustainability.

It focuses on lower-cost attractions and entertainment—the kind that makes memories, not massive overhead.

In short: It’s nostalgic. It’s affordable. It’s financially sound.

The reimagined Wonderland shows that Ocean City doesn’t have to choose between charm and viability. It can have both—and give families a reason to come back, year after year.

A brand-new Digital Entertainment Center that brings cutting-edge, interactive technology to the Jersey Shore. It’s a place where creativity and curiosity collide—particularly for teens and adults—and open year-round, rain or shine.

The fun isn’t just physical—it’s digital, immersive, and ever-changing. Imagine:

• VR-driven rides where you can fly through space, race dinosaurs, or walk a plank suspended 100 stories above a virtual city

• Augmented reality exhibits where the walls come alive with stories you can control

• Projection-based games where the floor becomes a trampoline, a soccer field, or a light-up dance zone 

• Interactive escape rooms that change based on your choices

• Immersive games, that blend physical challenges, digital puzzles, and live storytelling  

And unlike traditional amusement parks, the space is modular and scalable. Experiences can be updated, re-themed, and refreshed regularly—meaning lower maintenance costs and more reasons for guests to return.

It’s more adaptable, more affordable, and more inclusive—a place where a rainy weekend becomes the best part of your trip.

These experiences can be highly profitable and relatively low cost. Sandbox VR is an example of a successful model, with operations in New Jersey.​

Not everything needs a ticket.

Sometimes, the best memories are the ones that happen between plans —when kids run barefoot off the beach, climb a rope bridge, and laugh for an hour while parents take a breath.

That’s the idea behind these public spaces—beautifully designed, beach-adjacent areas where families can play, eat, and relax.

The public spaces of Wonderland Commons combine a number of great features. 

First, the Fundeck—a community—designed playground that’s bold, safe, visually striking, and constantly in motion. Slides, climbing structures, shade canopies, water misters—and always, the sound of kids being kids.

And just next to it? A Bandshell Stage for everyone else. An evolving stage that hosts:

• Puppet shows and sing-alongs in the morning

• Storytellers, magicians, and clowns in the afternoon

• And live music, comedy, and community events in the evening

And not least of all? A rotating selection of food trucks offering bold flavors and constantly changing culinary experiences. Featuring local chefs and regional cuisine, from beach-town classics to creative street food​, these dining options will bring vibrancy and foot traffic to Wonderland Commons, supporting small businesses and keeping the experience fresh

It’s entertainment that evolves with the day—and invites people to linger, connect, and return.

Together, the playground, bandshell, and food courts create an all-day, all-ages draw—without the need for a wristband or a room key.

This is Ocean City at its best: welcoming, lively, and built for everyone.

Imagine waking up to the sound of waves, stepping out onto your balcony, and realizing—you're in the middle of the park. The carousel turns just beyond the plaza. The scent of boardwalk treats drifts through the air. A digital entertainment center is just steps away. The ocean? A stone’s throw away.

That’s the vision behind the lodging component of the Wonderland Commons.

These low-rise, high-end lodging options will blend with the neighborhood, the boardwalk, and the ocean. They’re highly profitable, low risk, and easy to execute.

They’re not just a place to stay—they’re a key part of the experience.

• Retail and restaurants line the ground floor, creating a lively streetscape that feels more like a European plaza than a traditional Boardwalk strip

• Rooftop pools and comfy seating areas give guests and visitors alike a fresh way to relax, recharge, and take in the views

• And the scale remains intimate, not imposing— low-rise buildings that complement the city’s character while raising the standard of what beachfront lodging can be.

This is not a high-rise resort walled off from the town. It’s a part of the town. Lived in. Walked through. Welcoming.

Importantly, the lodging—along with the Digital Entertainment Center—is one of the two key economic engines of the Better Idea plan. It helps attract the private investment needed to make the whole project sustainable, while elevating the site in a way that still feels true to Ocean City: Family-friendly. Classy, not flashy. First-class, not exclusive.

This is what happens when design, economics, and hospitality all work together.

You don’t just build places to sleep—you create places people dream of staying.

1. The City of Ocean City negotiates and enters into a development agreement with Mr. Mita, formally designating him as the master developer for the site.

2. That agreement includes:

   • A commitment to the Better Idea vision

   • Provisions for public input at key design and phasing milestones

   • A public-private design committee to help shape the details

3. Mr. Mita would lead the development of the lodging and landmark structure, while subleasing portions of the property to qualified operators of the amusement park, digital entertainment center, retail, and food spaces.

4. The terms of those subleases—including design standards, use restrictions, and financial contributions—would be built into the original development agreement, ensuring transparency and public benefit.

5. The nonprofits in town begin a formal fund raising effort, supported by the City and developer.  (They have already raised $1M with the City and developer’s support. Imagine what they can do working together!).

6. Each component—the park, digital entertainment center, dining, and more—is developed and funded by its own lessee, ensuring only modest cost to the city for enormous benefit.

7. And the entire site can be built in phases—with the playground and band shell leading the way, bringing life to the space from day one, while other elements follow.

This approach is:

• Efficient because it builds on land already owned and a developer already positioned.

• Collaborative because it ensures public voices are at the table.

• Financeable because it leverages private investment, subleases, and public-private coordination, and spreads costs among many parties.

• Profitable because it reduces the risk of a high-rise, and delivers profit to the developer quicker.

• Sustainable because each piece supports the others.

In short, this is how you turn a better idea into a real, working place.
Not just someday. Today.