Splash Park: Design Recommendations

Also known as a water park, this is a very specific type of aquatic facility aimed at children, where safety is the number one priority. That’s why a Splash Park will always be shallow (usually up to an adult’s ankle) or not deep at all, and will include the necessary measures to fully guarantee a safe environment.

What’s more, just like more traditional kiddie pools, Splash Parks are designed to promote entertainment and fun.

In this way, the water parks incorporate elements adapted to the age of users. This may include, among other accessories:

• Interactive fountains that when children step on the coloured dots, they will be amazed at how the shape, colour and sound of the water streaming from the fountain changes.
• Splash, jet and wave areas.
• Circuits and interactive games.

The water park, in short, can be defined as a playground covered by a shallow sheet of water.

• Its main use is leisure and entertainment for little ones.
• The target audience is children, even the littlest ones, due to the shallowness of the water. This makes it a perfect place for young children to interact with each other, as well as with their adult family members. In addition, it is an inclusive place, as it is also safe for people with reduced mobility or disabilities.
• The swimming season of splash parks can be any time of year, since they can be installed both outdoors and indoors.
• The most common location for the water park is the children’s area of a larger water feature. They can also be installed in playgrounds and water parks.

The design of a Splash Park must include certain features to ensure a safe, yet dynamic environment that enhances the experience of the youngest users:

• For the chosen shape, the use of smooth and irregular shapes is recommended.
• The temperature may range between 30 and 32 ℃ for an indoor water park, ensuring that it is pleasant and inviting for bathing.
• The depths of a Splash Park are always shallow, to guarantee the safety of the youngest children.
• Regarding recirculation time, there are specific regulations aimed at preventing legionellosis, and we recommend following the strictest standards. That’s why the recommended recirculation time is between 30 minutes and one hour, according to the treatments and quality standards of UK Regulations.
• A hypochlorite-based system in conjunction with a UV system is recommended as the most appropriate water treatment to keep the generation of chlorine by-products to a minimum and thereby improve the well-being of children. Since the volume of water to be treated is generally small, installing this kind of system does not usually increase the overall cost, while it does improve water quality and the well-being of children.
• As for the surface finishes, a vitreous coating (glass coating) is recommended, for its ability to adapt perfectly to irregular geometric shapes, which are typical of a Splash Park.
• The proper water recirculation system consists of an overflow system around the entire edge of the pool, as it is the most efficient method.
• Regarding the construction system, concrete or high-density polystyrene are recommended, for their flexibility for constructing irregular shapes.
• Finally, with regard to regulations, it is essential to carry out a customized design for each project and to comply with the prescriptive technical standards, in any event.

In short, the Splash Park is an essential element nowadays in any children’s water park due to its guaranteed safety, its inclusiveness and, with the right design, its potential to entertain and stimulate little ones through water.

*This information contains general recommendations, which should be evaluated case by case. This information is not an instruction manual and should not be considered as one under any circumstance. Any installation must be carried out by a professional, following suitable guidelines. In this sense, each user is responsible for the use of this information. Accordingly, under no circumstance shall Fluidra be liable for any claim, damage or loss arising out of the use of this information.

When we think of water park spaces, perhaps the first thing that occurs to us is a pool with slides, but it is not limited only to these alternatives.

Apart from the previously mentioned splash park, there is also the splash pad. But, what is a splash pad?

A splash pad is a leisure and recreation area, often located in a water park or public park, with water features that have no water depth at all. So, it’s an ideal solution for children, as it eliminates the need for a lifeguard, as there is no risk of drowning and all elements are made with soft and rounded materials.

It is an increasingly widespread alternative among lovers of aquatic attractions. The splash pad is a space where the water springs from jets that come from different places, so it offers great fun due to all the different entertainment possibilities it can offer.

They usually integrate ground nozzles that spray water upwards from the floor. There may also be other water features such as semi-circular pipe showers, mushrooms or tree shaped showers for example.

Some splash pads feature interactive nozzles to allow users to move them and spray at others. Floor showers and nozzles are often controlled by a hand-activated motion sensor, to run for a limited time.

The water is usually recycled and always treated to the same quality level as pool water standards. These splash pads often have a non-slip textured concrete surface or granulated rubber.

As well as most of all water park installations, it can be enhanced with an homogeneous thematization in order to provide a more immersive experience as well as an attractive visual atmosphere.