Project: (2387) Gheluvelt Park, Worcester
Client: Worcester City Council
Design: Plincke Architects / Ustigate / Vortex Intl
Description: Paddling Pool converted to Splashpad
Water Management: Recirculation System
Installation: 2010 / Area: 340m²
Challenge:
The existing concrete paddling pool was tired and out of harmony with Worcester’s green flag Gheluvelt Park. The replacement of the paddling pool required a sympathetic design to compliment the pretty, formal park setting. A new recirculation system needed to be installed a considerable distance away from the feature, on the upper bank in the service compound. Gheluvelt Park, Worcester has more than 950,000 visitors per year. Gheluvelt Splashpad required completion before August.
Success:
Part of a £1.4m HLF lottery funded project, Gheluvelt Park Splashpad opened to sunshine and much enthusiasm a month ahead of schedule in June 2010.
Designed by Plincke, the Splashpad is a 340m² organic shape that blends with the local contour of the land and looks like it has always been there! Popular paddling continues into the future at Gheluvelt Park via a gentle central stream and rock pool, fed by above ground products encompassed within the scheme. There are a variety of interactive aquatic play features brought to life by pressure activated foot or hand pads enabling all water players to touch and start the flow. Gheluvelt Park’s congregation of ground sprays include three Magic Mists, a Foaming Geyser, a Water Jelly, a Ground Gusher, three Rooster Tails and a Water Tunnel. Trickles and bursts of water in varying directions invite visitors of all ages and abilities to enjoy the activities involved.
Just as rivers meet dramatic ends at lakes or oceans, Gheluvelt Park’s design includes a theatrical end at the base of the Splashpad stream. A dozen vertical water jets in a circular formation fire fast and high into the sky, creating great acoustics and a pleasing sight for all park visitors to see and hear. During the day children have lots of fun weaving in and out of the water jets; attempting to find themselves inside the formation before the water jets come up for air. Once inside the formation; they are thrilled to find themselves completely surrounded by water. This attractive water feature also includes LED lighting to continue pleasing park visitors into the night.
Stainless steel products, Caledonian stone boulders and earthy tones were used to enhance the natural aquatic play scheme and experience at Gheluvelt Park.
Plant Room
The plant room is housed in a shipping container sited at the top of the bank in the parks service area, approximately 40m from the Splashpad. This was an economical solution to house the PWTAG compliant recirculation system. The PWTAG standard is a two tank system incorporating one tank to collect the water after play for treatment and a second tank for clean and treated water only. A two tank PWTAG compliant water management system avoids any risk of cross-contamination.
Gheluvelt Park Awards
In 2016 Gheluvelt Park was awarded the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence.
One of the Tripadvisor reviews described Gheluvelt Splashpad as “A WOW Water Park”
