
How Water Play is making a big splash in the Holiday Park industry...
In an era where guest expectations are higher than ever and competition is fierce, water play is quickly becoming one of the most powerful tools in the holiday park operator’s arsenal. Across the UK and Europe, parks of all sizes are recognising that innovative aquatic attractions aren’t just for cooling down, they’re driving footfall, extending stays and creating lifelong memories.
For site owners and managers looking to refresh or expand their facilities, two leading players Ustigate Waterplay and Edsun are delivering exciting, energy-efficient, and inclusive water play experiences that cater to every age and ability. From playful splashpads to adrenaline-pumping waterslides, the latest developments in water play are offering a whole new level of engagement for families and thrill-seekers alike.

FRESHWATER BEACH HOLIDAY PARK’S multi-racer slide and Elevations™ have transformed the pool. Photo Credit: USTIGATE WATERPLAY.
DESIGNING FOR FUN, BUILT FOR THE FUTURE
Ustigate Waterplay, with over 50 years of expertise in aquatic play, continues to push boundaries in both design and sustainability. Partnering with world leaders Vortex Aquatic Structures International and wiegand.waterrides, Ustigate creates water attractions that are visually striking, tactilely engaging, and operationally efficient. “Our mission is to maximise fun while minimising resource use,” explains a Ustigate spokesperson.
“Whether we’re designing a brand-new splashpad or modernising an existing pool, every element is planned with inclusivity, energy efficiency, and long-term adaptability in mind.” This philosophy is best illustrated through their recently completed project at Freshwater Beach Holiday Park in Bridport, Dorset.

USTIGATE’S NEW VECTORY™ collection
offers a fresh take on splashpad interactivity.
FRESHWATER BEACH HOLIDAY PARK, DORSET
Freshwater Beach, a popular privately owned holiday park on the Jurassic Coast—underwent a significant aquatic upgrade in early 2025. Ustigate replaced a single-lane waterslide with a multi-racer version capable of entertaining three riders simultaneously.
The transformation also included the installation of Vortex Elevations™, an action-packed water structure filled with climbing features, interactive spray bars, cascading floral showers, and the ever-popular Seeflow™ dumping buckets. According to Tristan Brookes, the park’s Swimming Pool Manager, the impact has been immediate:
“Working with Ustigate Waterplay has been an absolute pleasure. From concept to completion, the process was seamless, and the finished result has far exceeded expectations. The guest feedback—even before opening— has been overwhelmingly positive. We’re confident it will be a major driver of visitor numbers this season.”
General Manager James Newman echoes the sentiment: “This project is part of our wider redevelopment strategy. Not only does the new facility look fantastic, but we’ve also reduced humidity in the pool hall and made the environment more comfortable and efficient to run. It’s a win-win.”

PARK HOLIDAYS’ CHICHESTER Lakeside Holiday Park scooped Swimming Pool Awards in February.
WHAT’S NEW FOR 2025
For operators looking to invest in the latest aquatic trends, Ustigate’s new VECTORY™ collection offers a fresh take on splashpad interactivity. With nine brand-new elements and three innovative technologies—Twistflow™, Pulsespray™ and DualSpray™—children can rotate, push, and pull their way to unexpected splashes and strategic group play.
The collection includes Dynamik, a series of low-level water wall obstacle courses, and Apex, a thrilling dual-sided feature where competitors battle to tip a water bucket over their opponent. Also turning heads in 2025 is the Watergarden range—nature-inspired features such as Helico Butterflies, spinning orbs, and floral showers that provide both sensory stimulation and visual appeal.
Its water play that’s not only fun but deeply connected to the natural world. Ustigate’s CoolHub™ is a multi-functional chill-out zone that blends relaxation with playful engagement.
Available in six Abrio modules, CoolHub™ includes shaded benches, a soft rain curtain, stone weirs for flow play, and integrated solar LED lighting. It’s ideal for extending guest dwell time and offering respite for families between more active water play sessions.

USTIGATE WATERLAY’S full suite of waterslides are sourced from their partner, wiegand.waterrides.
SMART, SUSTAINABLE, AND COST-EFFECTIVE
Water and energy efficiency remain central to Ustigate’s design ethos. Key innovations include:
• On-demand water activation: Play features remain dormant until a button is pressed, reducing water waste when not in use.
• Sequenced play zones: Features operate in groups or staggered bursts to conserve water while maintaining the element of surprise.
• Overspray zones: Reclaim and recycle water within the splashpad footprint.
• Remote-access controllers: Manage water usage, maintenance and scheduling from anywhere, via Ustigate’s smart plant room technology.
• Optional solar PV integration: Lower your site’s carbon footprint with solar support from Ustigate’s affiliated power experts, Burnell.
For multi-site operators, Ustigate’s Safeswap™ anchor system allows for seasonal product changes without excavation—making it easy to rotate features between parks or upgrade zones in phases.

CUSTOMISATION AND CREATIVITY WITH EDSUN
French specialist Edsun also brings more than 30 years of aquatic expertise to the table, offering ergonomic, safe, and vividly themed water play features. Their approach is especially appealing to sites looking for highly customisable elements that tie into broader branding or storytelling.
Edsun’s waterslides, made using RTM (Resin Transfer Moulding), are available in family-friendly and thrill-seeker variants. They come with a sleek, glossy finish and can be tailored to suit any environment in colour, layout, and theme. For younger visitors, Edsun’s wading pool accessories—including pirate ships, jungle animals, and water tables—bring gentle play and imaginative interaction into shallow water settings.
Beyond splash zones, Edsun also supplies durable timber and aluminium outdoor play equipment, blending beautifully into woodland or coastal settings. Their comprehensive design-to-installation service includes 3D visualisation, ensuring each site gets exactly what it envisions.

Each play area is more than a feature - it's a destination within your park.
PROVEN RESULTS ACROSS EUROPE
Edsun’s portfolio includes standout installations at major campsites and leisure parks, including Camping Amfora in Spain.
Clients praise the company’s flexibility, responsiveness, and ability to deliver creative solutions that resonate with family audiences. “Our aim is always to provide long-lasting, fun-filled experiences that drive repeat visits,” says an Edsun representative.
“Each play area is more than a feature—it’s a destination within your park.”

EDSUN INTERACTIVE water walls are great for all ages.
NOW’S THE TIME TO DIVE IN
Water play has evolved from passive paddling pools to interactive, strategic, and inclusive play zones that drive visitor satisfaction, boost site reputation, and offer impressive ROI.
Whether you’re reimagining an ageing facility or planning a new development, companies like Ustigate Waterplay and Edsun offer solutions that blend creativity, reliability, and forward-thinking sustainability.
As families continue to prioritise active, outdoor fun, there’s never been a better time to dive into water play!
EDSUN
www.edsunloisirs.com
USTIGATE WATERPLAY
www.ustigatewaterplay.co.uk
UK Pool & Spa Awards
www.ukpoolandspaawards.co.uk

SBLASH AQUA PARK IN PENMAENMAWR, Conwy, was launched last May and immediately captured the public’s imagination.


























Fordingbridge, who are key suppliers when it comes to maximising outdoor space. “This can create great word of mouth and repeat business from visitors having just had a great experience at your park,” Christine continues. “Word of mouth is the most powerful form of marketing and the best aspect is, it’s free! “If your equipment is covered by a canopy, it also increases the life span and therefore reduces maintenance and replacement costs,” adds Christine.
Specialist design and built contractors, Fordingbridge is a one-stop shop when it comes to outdoor weather-proofi ng solutions. A typical installation recently took place at the Cotswold Country Park and Beach provides water sport activities on a wide expanse of lake. The owners wanted to create a weather-protected, outdoor dining/spectating space where friends and family of those participating in the water sports could dine and watch in comfort, sheltered from the elements. After conducting a free site survey, Fordingbridge proposed a twin-span, barrel-vaulted timber canopy to provide 128m2 of covered space overlooking the lake. The Opal 60 fabric roof covering was designed exclusively for Fordingbridge and is known for its longevity, high tear strength and UV resistance. The install team delivered the project in four days, keeping disruption to a minimum.
Great for park operators and the planet, increasingly the holiday sector is choosing recycled plastic furniture over traditional wooden furniture. The reasons are clear. Not only will it never rot, splinter or rust but it is guaranteed against rot for 25 years. There are no long-term maintenance commitment such as painting or sanding down. It’s waterproof and not affected by exposure to chemicals, severe weather or intense sunlight, meaning it can be left outside all year round without any effect on its look and feel – and no unsightly green algae. New for this season from NBB is its London Dining Set – a contemporary table and bench set manufactured in grey plastic, seating up to six guests and saving nearly 4,000 plastic milk bottles from going to landfi ll.
Rolec Leisure is seeing a growing number of parks installing charging stations for electric vehicles. Something that park operators are probably encountering more and more are visitors with electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (EVs and PHEVs). “Demand for EVs and PHEVs is at an all-time high in the UK, with year-on-year sales having increased by more than 27% explains,” explains Martin Georgeson, Sales Director of Rolec Services, the award-winning company is widely recognised as one of Europe’s leading designers, manufacturers and suppliers of EV charging points and accessories. “We are aware of a number of disgruntled visitors to other leisure parks around the country who have aired their disappointment at the lack of EV charging points on EV internet forums, highlighting the fact that demand is out there,” warns Martin. Rolec’s EV charging points are specially designed to be easy and economical to install, safe, and adaptable to a holiday park requirements.
