Project: Victoria Park Splashpad
Client: Cardiff City Council
Design: Ustigate Waterplay / Vortex International
Water Management: Recirculation System
Main Contractor: Ustigate Waterplay
Installation: 2016 / Area: 1167m²
Challenge:
The paddling pool and plant room had come to the end of its life term. Maintenance costs were on the rise and the water management system was under engineered with just one filter which meant it did not meet modern safety standards. Due to the depth of water in the paddling pool, a full time lifeguard was required on site. The new design needed to pay homage to Victoria Park’s past zoo and existing paddling pool.
Success:
The new water management system is a PWTAG compliant recirculation system with two separate tanks; one to hold the clean water to supply the features and one to collect the water returned from the splashpad. The filtration and water treatment is high specification and efficiently monitored by our in-house controller, as well as 3 – 4 manual checks per day to meet regulations. The new water management system has reduced operational costs and the new scheme provides much more fun.
Victoria Park Splashpad includes 34 aquatic play features, with nature and animal products that reflect Victoria Park’s past. There are three zones, with products that appeal to toddlers, families and teens. The splashpad has wow factor on the spot and from a distance, with a tall Spider providing a variety of exciting water movements and a tall Supersplash no.2 with a giant tipping bucket that frequently fills and spills. When the bucket is full, it tips water on to a platform, spreading it far and wide and soaking everyone in its path. The water that lands on the surface of the splashpad forms a shallow depth of water within a stream, providing small children with the opportunity to paddle safely for a short period, before the water drains away and back to the plant room.
To pay homage to the past, the splashpad is formed in the same footprint and in a similar shape to the past paddling pool. The majority of the wetpour surfacing is finished in two shades of blue to mimic the pool of water that once stood there. Green wetpour was used to surround the nature and animal themed products to represent the zoo enclosures that were at Victoria Park, before the paddling pool. The PWTAG compliant recirculation system ensures children have the highest quality of water to play in.
After its first season of operation the splashpad has proven to be a great success attracting approximately 71,000 visitors, that’s an average of 6000 people a week during the summer period. Previously the paddling pool attracted an average of 8,000 visitors across the whole season. (Source: Cardiff City Council).
