New Jersey American Water is teaming up with the City of Asbury Park to host its third annual “WaterFest” on June 6. Making its debut in Asbury Park, the completely free, family-friendly event will take place from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Springwood Avenue Park.
The outdoor festival is designed to pull back the curtain on local environmental systems. By blending public utility education with standard summer fun, the event aims to teach residents about water safety, environmental conservation, and critical regional infrastructure issues like lead service line replacement programs.
Instead of traditional dry lectures, utility team members will offer interactive outdoor activities and hands-on demonstrations built for all ages. According to organizers, attendees should prepare to get wet. The event schedule features:
- Educational Exhibits: Interactive water models, environmental protection displays, and water quality testing demonstrations.
- Family Activities: Community resource tables, a kid-friendly water slide, and a “touch-a-truck” experience showcasing local utility vehicles.
- Health and Wellness Resources: Free refreshments and fresh produce provided directly to attending families by the local non-profit organization Interfaith Neighbors.
Organizers explicitly encourage families and children to bring a bathing suit and a towel if they plan on participating in the day’s water-based activities and slides.
State and utility leaders emphasized that building public trust requires accessible, face-to-face community outreach.
“Events like WaterFest are about more than a single day—they’re about building trust and helping customers better understand the role water plays in their daily lives,” Mark McDonough, president of New Jersey American Water said.
State lawmakers representing the 11th Legislative District echoed the importance of taking these resources directly to neighborhood parks. Senator Vin Gopal noted that the gathering “brings those resources directly to the community’s doorstep,” while Assemblywoman Margie Donlon stressed the event’s role in connecting water quality directly to community health. Assemblywoman Luanne Peterpaul added that delivering trustworthy drinking water information in a relaxed, approachable setting creates a lasting, positive impact for local families.
Heather Schulze Triarsi, associate executive director at Interfaith Neighbors, noted that supplying fresh produce at the resource tables is a core element of the day’s mission. “It’s about making healthy options and supportive resources more accessible to the community,” Triarsi said.
The festival is fully open to the general public with no registration required. For more details on local utility initiatives and community programs, residents can find resources directly online at the New Jersey American Water community portal.
