Simple solutions
For aquatic facilities looking for features that require minimal renovation but provide excitement, Anderson says poolside climbing walls and smaller slides are an ideal choice.
“We find older aquatic facilities typically have underutilized deep-end pools where the water is flat and not appealing to tweens and teens,” says Anderson. “One of the easiest solutions is to add a poolside climbing wall that has tremendous visual appeal and immediately attracts this age group to these areas of the pool that have typically been avoided.”
Climbing walls can be easily attached to the pool deck and do not require any water source. This makes these features a quick, simple solution that gives an older pool a renovated look.
Smaller slides also provide an easy fix, particularly for ‘kiddie’ or ‘baby’ pools that have fallen out of favour. In older aquatic facilities, toddlers and younger children (as well as parents) have little attraction to the flat, stagnant water in these specialty pools.
“When it comes to kiddie pools and splash pads, we immediately offer a slide for facilities looking for a quick renovation that packs a huge visual punch to attract this age group, and is super easy to install,” says Anderson.
These slides require a very low flow of water, so it makes them easy to add to pools. Additionally, they come in several themes to give the pool the feeling of mini-waterpark. Further, the slides come in a variety of sizes and footprints, so they lend themselves to work on almost any space.
“When helping a facility choose a slide, we show them the many themes available, then narrow it down to the one that will fit into their kiddie pool, splash pad, or beach-entry area so the facility has the safety zones and clearances needed around the structure to be in full compliance,” says Anderson. “Best of all, there is no need to break up any of the deck.”
Experienced aquatic designers know the most successful aquatic renovations are those that leverage seldom-used spaces or water features so there is no need to completely overhaul the existing facility.
“We always want to know what is already there and try to build/add to it to maximize untapped potential,” says Anderson.
Planning for different thrill levels
During the design process, it is important to keep in mind in choosing different upgrades, each feature should be tailored to engage every age group in a family.
“The most successful renovations are designs that provide comfortable play spaces for young ones as well as older kids,” says Anderson.
Whenever possible, plan for a toddler area, a unique space for the four- to seven-year-olds, and a bigger area for the eight- to 12-year-old crowd.
By appealing to all age groups, aquatic facilities are more likely to attract families. It is also important to designate a toddler area with calming, interactive water features not too close to the slides, water cannons, or larger dumping buckets, which are designed for the middle and older children in a family.
“It’s important to plan and design with graduated levels of play focusing on beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels of play,” says Robinson. “The goal is to create safe opportunities to splash independently while also encouraging co-operation and team play which all add to the success of the destination.”
