Working with the landscape
The next objective was determining an overall esthetic for the splash pad that would fit seamlessly with the park’s surrounding greenspace. The builder selected a collection of themed water play features inspired by a meadow-like ecosystem comprising tall shoots of misting grass, giant showering wildflowers, friendly insect characters, and a shimmering stream full of fish.
The earthy colour palette of light and dark greens captures the look of grasses in various stages of growth, while vibrant blues and reds draw the eye to blossoms, splashing insects, and swimming fish. The stream was situated at the heart of the splash pad, surrounded by flora and fauna, similar to how a stream is the life source of a meadow in nature.
Anticipating the play experience
The builder also considered how children would use the features once activated. Their goal was to create a contemplative, low-to-moderate action play space, where all ages and abilities would feel comfortable to join in play.
Age-specific play habits
Beyond separating different ages, defining water play zones also helps the splash pad better cater to the play habits of toddlers, children, and youth. For instance, in the toddler zone, little ones should feel safe playing with water elements designed to their size and abilities. With a recommended age range of six months to four years, discovery play in this zone focuses on motor skills development, sensory stimulation, and parallel play for the younger bathers.
The child zone is oriented around family fun, and should be an exciting area for everyone, though it is geared towards kids five to eight years old. Discovery play in this zone includes sensory stimulation, action-reaction interactions, and collaboration.
Finally, the youth zone includes big sprays and even bigger splashes for older kids looking for increased stimulation. Designed for ages nine and up, the element of surprise is essential for this zone. Here, the discovery play elements should relate to action-reaction interactions and collaboration.
These age-specific play habits were taken into consideration for the Prairie Winds Park by using themed features that construct a larger, fantastical world for kids to explore the elements of nature. They can discover how water travels through a meandering stream bed, from its spring to the ocean, or how twisting the stem of a wildflower can shake off water droplets. Ideal for toddlers, the stream invites gentle hands-on play with movable weirs, and the sensations of flowing water. Bubbling ground sprays add clusters of excitement, and dew-dropping grass creates suspense for the five- to 12-year-old group with sudden splashes. Built with interactive functions throughout, the features selected for the Prairie Winds Park inspire thought-provoking play and discovery.
