In Summer 2019 the Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council Development Management Committee granted planning approval for Splashlands. Works on site commenced in Autumn 2019 with all parties on the pulse to meet Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council’s promise of a 2020 delivery.

All in good time to celebrate Welwyn Garden City’s 100th birthday, Splashlands opened in 2020. All facilities are now managed by GLL and set to entertain families and friends for years to come.

The leisure facility offers a kiosk serving drinks and snacks, changing rooms, an all year round outdoor gym, ample seating, picnic areas and a nautical themed adventure playground; incorporating a circular design to commemorate Welwyn Garden City being the second garden city to be built in the UK in 1920.

Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council, Ground Control, KOMPAN and Ustigate Waterplay have proudly produced a nautical themed adventure playground with play items to please everyone. It is a concept that invites all budding seafarers to enjoy an oceanic voyage around Splashlands.

Children will enjoy boarding and riding KOMPAN’s robinia wood dolphins and choice of boats. There is a small boat that is anchored and accessible at ground level and a large hand-crafted and painted ship that offers multiple slides, net climbers, climbing walls, rope bridges, a lookout tower and a fireman’s pole for a quick escape. Inclusive swings and roundabouts have also been included in the mix to ensure all Stanborough Park’s young visitors have a vessel to navigate.

The 600m² splashpad with its sixty-seven fun filled water features is central to Splashlands circular design. It provides an exciting and inclusive sea for children to explore. The design incorporates two shallow pools connected by a shallow river to reflect the layout of Stanborough Park with its two man-made lakes, sourced from the River Lea. The pool at the northern end is fed by our Vortex Plux Cane, a tall hose-like item that delivers a steady flow of water from above. The pool at the southern end is kept topped up by our forever playful Vortex Helico with its two Seeflow™ sails. Helico is a clever, eye-catching, above ground product that will fascinate visitors with its two water curtains, spiralling water effects and its animated ability to rotate all by itself. Ustigate Waterplay installed the correct gradients to allow a slight depth of water to gather for play value and the correct drainage to ensure a risk free and safe splashpad environment is retained at all times. When planning a play space it is important to maximise the play value involved for all ages. The two tall above ground items will thrill Splashland’s accomplished seafarers and a low level Aqua Dome with its popular mushroom water effect has been installed to please beginners.

All of the remaining water features spring from the ground up, delivering the different moods of the sea in one place. There are water jets of every size, shape and height, incoming from every direction possible. The product mix includes our Donut Spray for little ones to stand in and wait to be surrounded by water and our Team Spray collection have turned out in full to encourage and promote team play and bigger splashes.

There are twelve Jet Streams, two Fountain Sprays, three of the Wave, a Sparkle No. 1, a Magic Mist No. 2 and much more to discover! In 2020 local children described the new facility as nothing short of “amazing” and just “woweeee”

Tony Kingsbury, Leader of Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council:

“After months of planning, it’s fantastic to see Splashlands ready on time and within budget. To open this free landmark leisure facility in Welwyn Garden City’s centenary year, makes it a particularly special moment in the history of our borough and underlines our continued commitment to ensure Welwyn Hatfield is a great place to live, work and play both now and for future generations.”

Rachael Walsh, Property Development Team Leader, Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council:

“The council’s aspirations for the redevelopment of the former lido site was to deliver a 20-year promise of providing wet play, free of charge, whilst still providing a facility which could be used 365 days of the year. During our first week of opening, we recorded over 9000 visitors to the park, with many more thousands being turned away. We even had to create an app for pre-booking!”

2022 update, with thanks to Emily Nicholls, GLL’s General Manager for Outdoor Facilities / Welwyn & Hatfield Partnership:

Splashlands continues to grow in popularity with visitor numbers rising between 2021 and 2022. For the period April 2021 – October 2021 Splashlands received 110,454 attendees and from April 2022 – 23rd August 2022, Splashlands received 149,800 attendees. Splashlands finished their 2022 season having received an incredible 250,000 visitors! It’s great that more people are enjoying the excellent outdoor activities at Stanborough Park!

Opening photographs courtesy of Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council

Click here to watch Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council’s Splashlands video