Splash Park Design 

This session, hosted by Bill Hachmeister of Water Odyssey, detailed the reasons for designing a 
splash  park  and  the  best  ways  to  do  so.    He  explained  that  splash  parks  are  budget  friendly, 
safe, and designed for all ages.  An important part of splash park design is meeting the needs of 
the  community  by  knowing  whether  or  not  you  should  build  your  splash  park  next  to  a 
playground or leave it as a stand‐alone area.  Departments looking in to building a splash park 
must go through a detailed planning session that discusses design issues (e.g., parking, shade, 
signage,  showers,  trash,  etc).    It  was  explained  that  security  and  safety  are  two  major  issues 
that must be considered when building a splash park in your community.  The most important 
factor in splash park design is the budget.  There are many features that are varied depending 
on the cost that can be put in to design. As an example, the decision between potable versus 
recirculating systems is not only important for the budget but also for the daily maintenance of 
the  area.    A  splash  park  area  can  be  advantageous  to  the  community  as  well  as  your 
department. 
 

   
Welcome to Aquatic Play Design What is an
“Aquatic Playground”?
• Basic overview
What is aquatic play
Terminology
What is an aquatic play feature
Why install an aquatic playground

Aquatic Playground:
T
Terminology
i l g
A recreational area designed for • Aquatic
A i Pl
Playgroundd (ASLA,
(ASLA ASTM)
interactive water play. • Wet Deck (ASTM)
• Spray Deck (ASTM)
• Spray Pool
It does not have an open basin of • Splash Park
standing water like a wading pool or • Spray Ground
swimming gppool. • Splash Pad
• Spray Zone
• Splash Zone

What is an Aquatic
Aq atic Pla
Play
Feature?
It is a climb
climb-resistant
resistant play feature
Sprays, Squirts, Mists
designed for use in water play
environments that
that….

Dumps, Shoots, or, “Sheets”

water.
 “Themed features”

“l G
“ln-Ground”
d”
(Flush Mount)

Interactive
Play

“Above Grade”

Theme Design
Why Install an Aquatic Playground?

• Recreational Attraction
• Alternative to a new swimming pool.
pool
• Safe Play vs wading and swimming
pools – no standing water
• More cost
cost--effective Installation
• More cost
cost--effective Operation
 As a Replacement for old Addition to an Existing Facility
Wading Pools

Forest Grove Aquatic Center - Forest Grove, OR

Photo Courtesy of Counsilman/Hunsaker Associates, Inc.

As a Part of a Renovation New Aquatic Center

Rio Vista Park Pool, San Marcos, TX

Photo Courtesy of Counsilman/Hunsaker Associates, Inc. Beachwood, OH

As a New Aquatic Playground

Overview of Topics
• Site Selection and Planning
• Budgeting
• Area Requirements
• Planning for Play and Safety
• Recirculation versus Potable Systems
• Reusingg Potable Water for Irrigation
g
• Q&A

Celebration Park, Allen, TX

 Planning Considerations
Site Selection for Aquatic Playground
• “Footprint”
Footprint
• Environment
• Communityy Needs • Parking
• Visitor Seating and Shade
• Demographics • Drinking Fountains
• Next to existing playground • Restroom Availability
• Stand alone • Foot and Body Showers
• Signage
g g
• Trash Receptacles
• Security

Environment
“Footprint”
Approximate Square Shape Est. Number
Number of Footage of Play
Children p
Components
20--30
20 500 Circle 3-5

40--80
40 1,500 Circle 10-
10-12

70--100
70 2,500 Circle or 12-
12-15
Square

150--200
150 5,000 Circle or 20-
20-30
Square

1 child every 20 square foot

Parking Shade & Seating

 Rest Rooms

Drinking Fountain
Potable Water

Signage Showers

Trash Receptacles
Security

• Child Security
Supervision
• Security from Vandalism
Lights
Fence
 Budgeting for Equipment Cost
Budgeting

• Budgeting
g g for Equipment
q p Cost • Operating system, i.e., Potable or
• Budgeting for Installation Cost Recirculation?
• Budgeting for Maintenance Cost • Play Feature Type – In-
In-Ground,
Ground Above
Grade or a combination?

Budgeting for Installation Cost

Budgeting
B dg ti g ffor Installation
I t ll ti C Costt “Hardscape”
• Operating system, i.e., Potable or
Recirculation? • 6” Reinforced concrete slab
• Size of the play area • Allow 10%-
10%-20% additional paved
• Availability of services area to capture over
over--spray
• Hardscape
– Size
Si (square
( ffootage)
t )
– Surfacing

Stakeholder Labor Additional Stakeholders

• Neighborhood Associations
• Homeowners Associations
• Local Schools
• Simple work performed
Cleanup

•Hire
Hi a professional
f i l construction
t ti manager.
 Budgeting for Installation Cost
“Surfacing”
• Broom finished concrete
• Poured in place rubber
• Coating systems for color and or skid
resistance
• Colored Concrete
Area Requirements
Potable Systems
• Water - minimum 2” 2 line at 50 psi
• Power – minimum 120 Volts AC, 20
Amps
• Drain to waste - Waste water
connection – minimum 4 4” line to
sanitary or ??? Check local codes
• Water Meter?
Planning for Play and Safety
• Plan to Maximize the Play Value (Fun!).
• Plan to Maximize Playy Safety.
y
• Plan for Water Safety.
Budgeting for Maintenance Cost
• Potable
• Recirculation
• Water Quality is Critical to
Health Safety
Area Requirements
R i l i systems
Recirculation
• Water - minimum 3/4 ” line at 50 psi
• Power – as required by recirculation
equipment (pumps) – single phase vs 3 phase
• Equipment Space
• Reservoir Space
• Drain to waste + Filter Backwash - Waste
water connection – minimum 4” 4 line to
sanitary or ??? Check local codes.
• Water Meter?
Planning your Aquatic Playground to
Maximize the Play Value (Fun!).
Play Scenario™ - the grouping of all the
EVENTS make-
make-up the operation of an
aquatic playground. Basically how the
aquatic playground operates.
A play scenario should be
designed to stimulate An aquatic
A ti play
l area should
h ld
children’s imaginations
g as be des
designed
g ed to tease by
well as their senses of sight, creating anticipation and
h
hearing,
i and
d touch.
t h surprise.
i

Make
a sure
u YOUOU can
a change
a g play
p ay Specify “fast
fast acting”
acting solenoids
times & scenarios

Activators Planning your Aquatic Playground

to Maximize Play Safety
 Age Appropriateness

2-5 Years 5-12 Years

8-12 Year Olds

Early Teens All Ages

Cryptosporidium Parvum
Planning for Water Safety

Planning Your Water

What is Crypto? Management System
W
Water T
Treatment
“Cryptosporidium parvum is a parasite that  Filtration
• Sand
is excreted in the feces of infected • Cartridge
humans, cattle, and other mammals.” • UV
 Chemicals
• Acid to balance pH
• Chlorine to sanitize
• Sea Klear

Showers and signs

 Monitoring of water quality and
maintenance of water treatment
equipment is essential.

What To Do/What To Look For

What To Do/What To Look For
• Maintain Water level.
• Regularly check water clarity. • Regularly clean pump strainer baskets.
• Regularly monitor chlorine and ph levels - a • Periodically shock the system.
minimum of three times a day. • Regularly
g y dump p reservoir.
• Maintain a log book.
• Regularly inspect for slime or visible bacteria.
• Regularly clean filter.

If there’s a
Recirculation
doubt
doubt, vs
Potable Systems

dump it out!
 Typical
yp Potable System
y Cityy Water ((Potable)) System
y
Rule of Thumb Budget

1/3 - Play
Pl
Equipment
and
2/3 - Accessories
Construction
Drain and
Installation

Recirculation System

Main Equipment
Vault

Wet Deck Equipment

Room
Wet Deck

Sediment Trap
and Strainer Water
Treatment Sediment Trap
Vaults and Strainer
Recirculation
Reservoir Recirculation
Reservoir

Budget Variables for Recirculation System

Recirculation Systems Budget Planning

• Equipment Room vs Vault •Hardscape Construction Play

• Water Treatment System •Recirculation and Equipment and
Accessories
• Distance from Equipment to Play Area Water Treatment
•Equipment Room
• Proximity of Services – Water, Power, Sewer •Vault Installation of Play
Equipment
q p and
Accessories
 “Borrowing”g Potable
Irrigation System
Irrigation Water Backflow Preventer
Valve
B
Box

Irrigation
Pump p
Aquatic Play Area
Water Odyssey™ Controller

Drain
Rain Bird® Controller

Holding
Sediment Trap Tank

Pl & Save™
Play S ™ SSystem Summary
Summary
Budget
g Planningg
• Site Selection and Planning
Play • Budgeting
g g
•Holding Tank Equipment and
Accessories
• Area Requirements
•Irrigation System
• Planning for Play and Safety
Installation of Play • Recirculation versus Potable Systems
Equipment and
Accessories • Borrowing Potable Irrigation Water for
Play

Q&A