Custom splash pad provides community with an inclusive play facility

For this particular splash park design, the city chose a recirculation system rather than a flow-through water system. It recirculates approximately 3785 L (1000 gal) of water per minute, which is treated chemically in the holding tank before it flows back to the splash features. This recirculation system was not only chosen for water conservation, but also for environmental reasons. The splash pad is located on infill land near a neighbouring creek. Therefore, additional measures were taken to ensure the ground was solid enough to support the weight of the splash park and avoid any contamination of the creek or underground water.

Brad Boaz from CMW Architects contributed to the project engineering and determined a stone and a geo-textile grid would need to be installed to stabilize the ground before the concrete could be poured. In this case, 203.2 mm (8 in.) of geo-grid and stone were installed (normally 101.6-mm [4 in.] of geo-grid and stone are used for a splash pad of this size).

A 18,527-L (5000-gal) collector tank was installed underground as part of the recirculation system except for the lids, which required additional support and stabilization. The tank measures 2.7 x 3.9 m (9 x 13 ft) with a depth of 3 m (10 ft) and weighs nearly 1814.3 kg (4000 lb).

During the splash pad’s construction process, the adjacent restroom was simultaneously being built to serve the facility. DWA Recreation worked with PSS Contractors LLC, the restroom-facility’s contractor, to design a 3.6- x 8.5-m (12- x 28-ft) mechanical room on one end of the building. This resulted in a slightly complicated plumbing and piping system, which had to meet the needs of both the splash pad and the restroom facility.

Further, the slides that emerge from the treehouse were difficult to install as they were not part of the standard water feature design. These slides are very long and are made to sit on a flat surface. That said, splash pads must have a slope so the water can easily drain into the recirculation system. To resolve this issue, DWA Recreation, a playground specialist, worked closely with Water Odyssey in the slide construction and installation process. They made a few adjustments so not only would the slides work well, but would
also meet the required Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) codes.