Ernie Hemming

Super Soakers

Switched on park operators who maximise the water play experience will ultimately reap the rewards…

Water play is suitable and fun for all ages and all abilities, creates an ideal leisure space the whole family can enjoy together. Pic: WSL.

Come rain or shine, water play provides hours of fun for guests of all ages. From thrilling head-to-toe splashes to gentle sprays and fine mists, aquatic play features go a long way in enhancing the holiday experience.

Through smart design and a good selection of features, any holiday park can create an aquatic play space that guests will enjoy and want to return to on repeat visits.

“A great choice of water play product scan help any destination attract new visitors, and boost overall attendance,” says Richard Harrison, Director of Waterplay Solutions Ltd (WSL).

“Water play is suitable and fun for all ages and all abilities and creates an ideal leisure space the whole family can enjoy together. The naturally inclusive and adaptable nature of a zero-depth splash park makes it an excellent amenity for holiday parks seeking to increase family attendance.”

WSL has been working with Parkdean Holidays since 2015 and is installing an indoor water play area at Trecco Bay Holiday Park in Wales later this year. The bespoke design includes a water slide, tipping buckets, ground sprays and water jets. “There is an increasing demand for interactivity and discovery in aquatic play design,” Richard reveals. “For example, play features that introduce cause and effect functions help children develop intention and discover causal relationships. Features that engage motor skills, sensory stimulation create both a socially and emotionally rewarding play experience for children.”

Waterplay’s innovative new Cirque Collection is a design collaboration with world-renowned public space designer Markus Ehring and invites kids to push, spin, plug, and take aim with a whimsical group of features designed for user interaction. Kids can push down on the Boingo to make water shoot higher from the nearest ground spray, or spin the magic handle on the Ringmaster to activate surrounding features.

COLLABORATIVE APPROACH

Richard adds: “We recommend that parks opt for products that are designed with a Detach and Exchange (DEX) System. This offers the flexibility of phasing your park installation, if subject to budget restraints, and changing your features over time. “For example, a DEX geyser ground spray in low, medium, or high flow can be installed initially, and then be replaced with an above ground feature later when money allows.”

Waterplay Solutions offer a flush-to-grade DEX anchoring system that eliminates the need for toe guards and combines clean design aesthetic with functionality and streamlined installation. Their extensive range of products are available in vibrant colour palettes and carry a 25-year warranty. Their industry-leading materials are non-toxic, durable and vandal resistant, and are carefully selected to ensure a safe play experience that stands the test of time.

In terms of cost, Richard advises that supply only prices can vary from a few hundred pounds for ground sprays up to several thousand for a slide activity centre: “A small water play area, when connected to an existing water management system can be achieved for around £50,000.

“A full turnkey solution for an aquatic play pad of 252m² with an array of Waterplay’s products, a wetpour safety surface and a brand new recirculation system can be achieved for £180,000,” he continues. “The sky really is the limit in determining exactly how much you would like to spend and how adventurous you would like your water play area to be.”

TIDAL WAVES

Ustigate Waterplay offers a vast range of over 300 aquatic structures designed to meet almost any specification.

Ernie Hemming of Ustigate Waterplay advises: “Ensure you have explored all possible options as water installations can be expensive and time consuming. “Even though initial setup costs for a high quality and robust water system may be excessive this will be cost effective in the long run as the water system will be able to stand the test of time and demands of excited children.” Ustigate is a partner of Vortex International of Canada, offering a product index of over 300 aquatic structures specifically designed to meet almost any specification, from low water consuming products for once use systems to super soaking buckets which create tidal waves.

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Splash Attack

Holiday parks, leisure resorts and commercial facilities across the country are reaping the benefits of dedicated water play areas.
With the fun factor at the top of visitor wish lists, it is vital for pool operators to continuously not just meet but exceed demands for safe and fun aquatic play.
“Commercial facilities are always looking for the next best thing and the end users are always looking for that wow factor,” says Simon Smith of World Leisure.
“In our experience, venues that invest in their water play offering reap the rewards in terms of added revenue, as the facility becomes attractive to a wider audience.”
Ernie Hemming of Ustigate Waterplay agrees: “Without doubt, the effective selection, combination and positioning of aquatic play features can be a key tool in attracting and retaining guests.”
“By using a range of colours, sensations of water and sleek designs, there won’t be any member of the family who will be able to resist taking a dip in the water play area.”

Lagan Valley LeisurePlex boasts an Aquadek, which has been created to add interactivity and a kid’s waterslide to the facility. Pic: World Leisure.

Ustigate Waterplay advises on a zero-level water play installation which prevents the buildup of water in the play area, therefore eliminating the need for a lifeguard and providing accessibility to all, including wheelchair users.
“We advise our clients on creating water play installations which caters for a range of age groups to increase its play value and popularity,” says Ernie.
“Carefully selected combinations and positioning of structures and features will attract the target audience to the relevant areas of the park, toddler, teen or family sections which will result into more visitors, because it is suitable for all of the family.” Ustigate specialise in splash pads and offer the full range of Vortex equipment which includes more than 140 different water play jets and above ground sprays. Not only do splash pads appeal to the kid in all of us, but they also tap today’s pressing issues of water conservation, parents’ heightened concerns for safety, the ongoing search for revenue and multipurpose usage.
In terms of cost, Ernie advises that the price of a typical splash pad depends mainly on three factors; size of the scheme, the type of water system and the selected water features. A typical once use system would usually cost between £50,000- £100,000 and a recirculating system would cost between £300,000- £500,000.
Although initial set up costs might be higher for implementing higher quality, robust systems – it will pay off in the long run.
“Once the scheme is up and running as you reduce the chances of future mechanical failings, which may lead to severe repair costs or potential closure of the water installation,” says Ernie.
He continues: “As with just about everything, the more you look after something the more it will look after you.”

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