diff --git a/src/lib/entityTransformers.ts b/src/lib/entityTransformers.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..fee57efc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/lib/entityTransformers.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,214 @@
+import { Database } from '@/integrations/supabase/types';
+
+type ParkInsert = Database['public']['Tables']['parks']['Insert'];
+type RideInsert = Database['public']['Tables']['rides']['Insert'];
+type CompanyInsert = Database['public']['Tables']['companies']['Insert'];
+type RideModelInsert = Database['public']['Tables']['ride_models']['Insert'];
+
+/**
+ * Transform park submission data to database insert format
+ */
+export function transformParkData(submissionData: any): ParkInsert {
+  return {
+    name: submissionData.name,
+    slug: submissionData.slug,
+    description: submissionData.description || null,
+    park_type: submissionData.park_type,
+    status: normalizeStatus(submissionData.status),
+    opening_date: submissionData.opening_date || null,
+    closing_date: submissionData.closing_date || null,
+    website_url: submissionData.website_url || null,
+    phone: submissionData.phone || null,
+    email: submissionData.email || null,
+    operator_id: submissionData.operator_id || null,
+    property_owner_id: submissionData.property_owner_id || null,
+    location_id: submissionData.location_id || null,
+    banner_image_url: submissionData.banner_image_url || null,
+    banner_image_id: submissionData.banner_image_id || null,
+    card_image_url: submissionData.card_image_url || null,
+    card_image_id: submissionData.card_image_id || null,
+    average_rating: 0,
+    review_count: 0,
+    ride_count: 0,
+    coaster_count: 0,
+  };
+}
+
+/**
+ * Transform ride submission data to database insert format
+ */
+export function transformRideData(submissionData: any): RideInsert {
+  // Parse JSON fields if they're strings
+  let coasterStats = null;
+  let technicalSpecs = null;
+  let formerNames = null;
+
+  try {
+    if (submissionData.coaster_stats) {
+      coasterStats = typeof submissionData.coaster_stats === 'string'
+        ? JSON.parse(submissionData.coaster_stats)
+        : submissionData.coaster_stats;
+    }
+  } catch (e) {
+    console.warn('Failed to parse coaster_stats:', e);
+  }
+
+  try {
+    if (submissionData.technical_specs) {
+      technicalSpecs = typeof submissionData.technical_specs === 'string'
+        ? JSON.parse(submissionData.technical_specs)
+        : submissionData.technical_specs;
+    }
+  } catch (e) {
+    console.warn('Failed to parse technical_specs:', e);
+  }
+
+  try {
+    if (submissionData.former_names) {
+      formerNames = typeof submissionData.former_names === 'string'
+        ? JSON.parse(submissionData.former_names)
+        : submissionData.former_names;
+    }
+  } catch (e) {
+    console.warn('Failed to parse former_names:', e);
+  }
+
+  return {
+    name: submissionData.name,
+    slug: submissionData.slug,
+    description: submissionData.description || null,
+    category: submissionData.category,
+    ride_sub_type: submissionData.ride_sub_type || null,
+    status: normalizeStatus(submissionData.status),
+    park_id: submissionData.park_id,
+    ride_model_id: submissionData.ride_model_id || null,
+    manufacturer_id: submissionData.manufacturer_id || null,
+    designer_id: submissionData.designer_id || null,
+    opening_date: submissionData.opening_date || null,
+    closing_date: submissionData.closing_date || null,
+    height_requirement: submissionData.height_requirement || null,
+    age_requirement: submissionData.age_requirement || null,
+    capacity_per_hour: submissionData.capacity_per_hour || null,
+    duration_seconds: submissionData.duration_seconds || null,
+    max_speed_kmh: submissionData.max_speed_kmh || null,
+    max_height_meters: submissionData.max_height_meters || null,
+    length_meters: submissionData.length_meters || null,
+    drop_height_meters: submissionData.drop_height_meters || null,
+    inversions: submissionData.inversions || null,
+    max_g_force: submissionData.max_g_force || null,
+    coaster_type: submissionData.coaster_type || null,
+    seating_type: submissionData.seating_type || null,
+    intensity_level: submissionData.intensity_level || null,
+    coaster_stats: coasterStats,
+    technical_specs: technicalSpecs,
+    former_names: formerNames || [],
+    banner_image_url: submissionData.banner_image_url || null,
+    banner_image_id: submissionData.banner_image_id || null,
+    card_image_url: submissionData.card_image_url || null,
+    card_image_id: submissionData.card_image_id || null,
+    image_url: submissionData.image_url || null,
+    average_rating: 0,
+    review_count: 0,
+  };
+}
+
+/**
+ * Transform company submission data to database insert format
+ */
+export function transformCompanyData(
+  submissionData: any,
+  companyType: 'manufacturer' | 'operator' | 'property_owner' | 'designer'
+): CompanyInsert {
+  return {
+    name: submissionData.name,
+    slug: submissionData.slug,
+    description: submissionData.description || null,
+    company_type: companyType,
+    person_type: submissionData.person_type || 'company',
+    founded_year: submissionData.founded_year || null,
+    headquarters_location: submissionData.headquarters_location || null,
+    website_url: submissionData.website_url || null,
+    logo_url: submissionData.logo_url || null,
+    average_rating: 0,
+    review_count: 0,
+  };
+}
+
+/**
+ * Transform ride model submission data to database insert format
+ */
+export function transformRideModelData(submissionData: any): RideModelInsert {
+  let technicalSpecs = null;
+
+  try {
+    if (submissionData.technical_specs) {
+      technicalSpecs = typeof submissionData.technical_specs === 'string'
+        ? JSON.parse(submissionData.technical_specs)
+        : submissionData.technical_specs;
+    }
+  } catch (e) {
+    console.warn('Failed to parse technical_specs:', e);
+  }
+
+  return {
+    name: submissionData.name,
+    slug: submissionData.slug,
+    manufacturer_id: submissionData.manufacturer_id,
+    category: submissionData.category,
+    ride_type: submissionData.ride_type || null,
+    description: submissionData.description || null,
+    technical_specs: technicalSpecs,
+  };
+}
+
+/**
+ * Normalize status values to match database enums
+ */
+function normalizeStatus(status: string): string {
+  if (!status) return 'operating';
+
+  const statusMap: Record<string, string> = {
+    'Operating': 'operating',
+    'operating': 'operating',
+    'Seasonal': 'seasonal',
+    'seasonal': 'seasonal',
+    'Closed Temporarily': 'closed_temporarily',
+    'closed_temporarily': 'closed_temporarily',
+    'Closed Permanently': 'closed_permanently',
+    'closed_permanently': 'closed_permanently',
+    'Under Construction': 'under_construction',
+    'under_construction': 'under_construction',
+    'Planned': 'planned',
+    'planned': 'planned',
+    'SBNO': 'sbno',
+    'sbno': 'sbno',
+  };
+
+  return statusMap[status] || 'operating';
+}
+
+/**
+ * Extract Cloudflare image ID from URL
+ */
+export function extractImageId(url: string): string {
+  const match = url.match(/\/([a-f0-9-]{36})\//);
+  return match ? match[1] : '';
+}
+
+/**
+ * Validate and sanitize submission data before transformation
+ */
+export function validateSubmissionData(data: any, itemType: string): void {
+  if (!data.name || typeof data.name !== 'string' || data.name.trim() === '') {
+    throw new Error(`${itemType} name is required`);
+  }
+
+  if (!data.slug || typeof data.slug !== 'string' || data.slug.trim() === '') {
+    throw new Error(`${itemType} slug is required`);
+  }
+
+  // Validate slug format
+  if (!/^[a-z0-9-]+$/.test(data.slug)) {
+    throw new Error(`${itemType} slug must contain only lowercase letters, numbers, and hyphens`);
+  }
+}
diff --git a/src/lib/slugUtils.ts b/src/lib/slugUtils.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..83d5139c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/lib/slugUtils.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,66 @@
+import { supabase } from '@/integrations/supabase/client';
+
+/**
+ * Generate a URL-safe slug from a name
+ */
+export function generateSlugFromName(name: string): string {
+  return name
+    .toLowerCase()
+    .replace(/[^a-z0-9\s-]/g, '')
+    .replace(/\s+/g, '-')
+    .replace(/-+/g, '-')
+    .trim();
+}
+
+/**
+ * Ensure slug is unique by checking database and appending number if needed
+ */
+export async function ensureUniqueSlug(
+  baseSlug: string,
+  tableName: 'parks' | 'rides' | 'companies' | 'ride_models',
+  excludeId?: string
+): Promise<string> {
+  let slug = baseSlug;
+  let counter = 1;
+
+  while (true) {
+    // Check if slug exists
+    let query = supabase
+      .from(tableName)
+      .select('id')
+      .eq('slug', slug);
+
+    // Exclude current record when editing
+    if (excludeId) {
+      query = query.neq('id', excludeId);
+    }
+
+    const { data, error } = await query.limit(1);
+
+    if (error) {
+      console.error(`Error checking slug uniqueness in ${tableName}:`, error);
+      throw error;
+    }
+
+    // If no match found, slug is unique
+    if (!data || data.length === 0) {
+      return slug;
+    }
+
+    // Append counter and try again
+    counter++;
+    slug = `${baseSlug}-${counter}`;
+  }
+}
+
+/**
+ * Generate and ensure unique slug in one operation
+ */
+export async function generateUniqueSlug(
+  name: string,
+  tableName: 'parks' | 'rides' | 'companies' | 'ride_models',
+  excludeId?: string
+): Promise<string> {
+  const baseSlug = generateSlugFromName(name);
+  return ensureUniqueSlug(baseSlug, tableName, excludeId);
+}
diff --git a/src/lib/submissionItemsService.ts b/src/lib/submissionItemsService.ts
index cad00eb2..39028362 100644
--- a/src/lib/submissionItemsService.ts
+++ b/src/lib/submissionItemsService.ts
@@ -161,36 +161,59 @@ export async function approveSubmissionItems(
   // Sort by dependency order (parents first)
   const sortedItems = topologicalSort(items);
   
+  // Build dependency resolution map
+  const dependencyMap = new Map<string, string>();
+  
   for (const item of sortedItems) {
     let entityId: string | null = null;
 
-    // Create the entity based on type
-    switch (item.item_type) {
-      case 'park':
-        entityId = await createPark(item.item_data);
-        break;
-      case 'ride':
-        entityId = await createRide(item.item_data);
-        break;
-      case 'manufacturer':
-      case 'operator':
-      case 'property_owner':
-      case 'designer':
-        entityId = await createCompany(item.item_data, item.item_type);
-        break;
-      case 'ride_model':
-        entityId = await createRideModel(item.item_data);
-        break;
-      case 'photo':
-        entityId = await approvePhotos(item.item_data);
-        break;
-    }
+    try {
+      // Create the entity based on type with dependency resolution
+      switch (item.item_type) {
+        case 'park':
+          entityId = await createPark(item.item_data, dependencyMap);
+          break;
+        case 'ride':
+          entityId = await createRide(item.item_data, dependencyMap);
+          break;
+        case 'manufacturer':
+        case 'operator':
+        case 'property_owner':
+        case 'designer':
+          entityId = await createCompany(item.item_data, item.item_type, dependencyMap);
+          break;
+        case 'ride_model':
+          entityId = await createRideModel(item.item_data, dependencyMap);
+          break;
+        case 'photo':
+          entityId = await approvePhotos(item.item_data, dependencyMap);
+          break;
+      }
 
-    // Update item status
-    await updateSubmissionItem(item.id, {
-      status: 'approved',
-      approved_entity_id: entityId,
-    });
+      if (!entityId) {
+        throw new Error(`Failed to create ${item.item_type}: no entity ID returned`);
+      }
+
+      // Update item status
+      await updateSubmissionItem(item.id, {
+        status: 'approved',
+        approved_entity_id: entityId,
+      });
+
+      // Add to dependency map for child items
+      dependencyMap.set(item.id, entityId);
+
+    } catch (error: any) {
+      console.error(`Error approving ${item.item_type} item ${item.id}:`, error);
+      
+      // Update item with error status
+      await updateSubmissionItem(item.id, {
+        status: 'rejected',
+        rejection_reason: `Failed to create entity: ${error.message}`,
+      });
+      
+      throw new Error(`Failed to approve ${item.item_type}: ${error.message}`);
+    }
   }
 }
 
@@ -229,56 +252,190 @@ function topologicalSort(items: SubmissionItemWithDeps[]): SubmissionItemWithDep
 }
 
 /**
- * Helper functions to create entities
+ * Helper functions to create entities with dependency resolution
  */
-async function createPark(data: any): Promise<string> {
+async function createPark(data: any, dependencyMap: Map<string, string>): Promise<string> {
+  const { transformParkData, validateSubmissionData } = await import('./entityTransformers');
+  const { ensureUniqueSlug } = await import('./slugUtils');
+
+  // Validate input data
+  validateSubmissionData(data, 'Park');
+
+  // Resolve dependencies
+  const resolvedData = resolveDependencies(data, dependencyMap);
+
+  // Ensure unique slug
+  const uniqueSlug = await ensureUniqueSlug(resolvedData.slug, 'parks');
+  resolvedData.slug = uniqueSlug;
+
+  // Transform to database format
+  const parkData = transformParkData(resolvedData);
+
+  // Insert into database
   const { data: park, error } = await supabase
     .from('parks')
-    .insert(data)
+    .insert(parkData)
     .select('id')
     .single();
 
-  if (error) throw error;
+  if (error) {
+    console.error('Error creating park:', error);
+    throw new Error(`Database error: ${error.message}`);
+  }
+
   return park.id;
 }
 
-async function createRide(data: any): Promise<string> {
+async function createRide(data: any, dependencyMap: Map<string, string>): Promise<string> {
+  const { transformRideData, validateSubmissionData } = await import('./entityTransformers');
+  const { ensureUniqueSlug } = await import('./slugUtils');
+
+  // Validate input data
+  validateSubmissionData(data, 'Ride');
+
+  // Resolve dependencies
+  const resolvedData = resolveDependencies(data, dependencyMap);
+
+  // Validate park_id is present (required for rides)
+  if (!resolvedData.park_id) {
+    throw new Error('Ride must be associated with a park');
+  }
+
+  // Ensure unique slug
+  const uniqueSlug = await ensureUniqueSlug(resolvedData.slug, 'rides');
+  resolvedData.slug = uniqueSlug;
+
+  // Transform to database format
+  const rideData = transformRideData(resolvedData);
+
+  // Insert into database
   const { data: ride, error } = await supabase
     .from('rides')
-    .insert(data)
+    .insert(rideData)
     .select('id')
     .single();
 
-  if (error) throw error;
+  if (error) {
+    console.error('Error creating ride:', error);
+    throw new Error(`Database error: ${error.message}`);
+  }
+
   return ride.id;
 }
 
-async function createCompany(data: any, companyType: string): Promise<string> {
+async function createCompany(
+  data: any,
+  companyType: string,
+  dependencyMap: Map<string, string>
+): Promise<string> {
+  const { transformCompanyData, validateSubmissionData } = await import('./entityTransformers');
+  const { ensureUniqueSlug } = await import('./slugUtils');
+
+  // Validate input data
+  validateSubmissionData(data, 'Company');
+
+  // Resolve dependencies
+  const resolvedData = resolveDependencies(data, dependencyMap);
+
+  // Ensure unique slug
+  const uniqueSlug = await ensureUniqueSlug(resolvedData.slug, 'companies');
+  resolvedData.slug = uniqueSlug;
+
+  // Transform to database format
+  const companyData = transformCompanyData(resolvedData, companyType as any);
+
+  // Insert into database
   const { data: company, error } = await supabase
     .from('companies')
-    .insert({ ...data, company_type: companyType })
+    .insert(companyData)
     .select('id')
     .single();
 
-  if (error) throw error;
+  if (error) {
+    console.error('Error creating company:', error);
+    throw new Error(`Database error: ${error.message}`);
+  }
+
   return company.id;
 }
 
-async function createRideModel(data: any): Promise<string> {
+async function createRideModel(data: any, dependencyMap: Map<string, string>): Promise<string> {
+  const { transformRideModelData, validateSubmissionData } = await import('./entityTransformers');
+  const { ensureUniqueSlug } = await import('./slugUtils');
+
+  // Validate input data
+  validateSubmissionData(data, 'Ride Model');
+
+  // Resolve dependencies
+  const resolvedData = resolveDependencies(data, dependencyMap);
+
+  // Validate manufacturer_id is present (required for ride models)
+  if (!resolvedData.manufacturer_id) {
+    throw new Error('Ride model must be associated with a manufacturer');
+  }
+
+  // Ensure unique slug
+  const uniqueSlug = await ensureUniqueSlug(resolvedData.slug, 'ride_models');
+  resolvedData.slug = uniqueSlug;
+
+  // Transform to database format
+  const modelData = transformRideModelData(resolvedData);
+
+  // Insert into database
   const { data: model, error } = await supabase
     .from('ride_models')
-    .insert(data)
+    .insert(modelData)
     .select('id')
     .single();
 
-  if (error) throw error;
+  if (error) {
+    console.error('Error creating ride model:', error);
+    throw new Error(`Database error: ${error.message}`);
+  }
+
   return model.id;
 }
 
-async function approvePhotos(data: any): Promise<string> {
+async function approvePhotos(data: any, dependencyMap: Map<string, string>): Promise<string> {
   // Photos are already uploaded to Cloudflare
-  // Just need to associate them with the entity
-  return data.photos?.[0]?.url || '';
+  // Resolve dependencies for entity associations
+  const resolvedData = resolveDependencies(data, dependencyMap);
+  
+  // For now, return the first photo URL
+  // In the future, this could create photo records in a dedicated table
+  if (resolvedData.photos && Array.isArray(resolvedData.photos) && resolvedData.photos.length > 0) {
+    return resolvedData.photos[0].url;
+  }
+  
+  return '';
+}
+
+/**
+ * Resolve dependency references in submission data
+ * Replaces submission item IDs with actual database entity IDs
+ */
+function resolveDependencies(data: any, dependencyMap: Map<string, string>): any {
+  const resolved = { ...data };
+
+  // List of foreign key fields that may need resolution
+  const foreignKeys = [
+    'park_id',
+    'manufacturer_id',
+    'designer_id',
+    'operator_id',
+    'property_owner_id',
+    'ride_model_id',
+    'location_id',
+  ];
+
+  // Resolve each foreign key if it's a submission item ID
+  for (const key of foreignKeys) {
+    if (resolved[key] && dependencyMap.has(resolved[key])) {
+      resolved[key] = dependencyMap.get(resolved[key]);
+    }
+  }
+
+  return resolved;
 }
 
 /**