Make A Splash! The Key Benefits of Splash Pads in Communities
For communities looking to take their parks and recreation facilities to the next level, splash pads have quickly emerged as a must-have feature for every municipality. Splash pads offer more than just a cool place to play during the warmer months. They’re vibrant, colourful, and dynamic features that are sure to foster laughter, energy, and connection within your community.
If you’re considering investing in a splash pad for your community, we’ll highlight some of the key benefits of splash pads that can help enhance your community and continue to bring people together!
MAKE CONNECTIONS & PROMOTE HEALTHY COMMUNITIES
Research tells us that kids are getting outside and playing less, which is why creating fun, inclusive spaces for community members to come together and enjoy is so important. Splash pads do just that – create fun, vibrant environments that not only encourage going outside to play but also help encourage kids to build connections and engage with their community.
One of the most understated, transformative aspects of splash pads is their ability to create healthier, safer, and more engaged communities. They connect families by giving parents and caregivers the chance to jump in and join in on the fun. They help to connect communities by creating destinations for people to gather and enjoy together. Splash pads also have a direct impact on the local economy, as municipalities with robust and well-designed public spaces help to attract new residents and businesses.
ENCOURAGE COLLABORATION & PLAY
Play is an essential part of a child’s growth and development, so implementing spaces into your community that encourage play and collaboration is essential to the healthy development of little minds. Cooperative play involves playing and working together towards a common goal or purpose and is the last of six stages of play. It helps children build the skills they’ll need later in life to collaborate with peers in numerous social settings, from school to sports. Creating spaces such as splash pads that foster and nurture collaborative and cooperative play in the community is a great way to ensure that you are continuing to support the growth and development of the next generation.
Waterplay splash pad features are built with collaboration in mind! Activity Towers encourage older waterplayers to work together to climb, spray, slide, splash and spin, while Team Effect ground sprays allow children to collaborate as they discover creative ways to cover nozzles to create a large gusher effect. With Waterways, water cascades into the activity channels, allowing waterplayers to splash back and forth in a fun water fight, or dump, block, plug, guide, spin, flick and collect water on its journey down the waterfall. By working together and playing collaboratively, children can continue to explore and develop social and cognitive skills that will help set them up for success in their futures.
BEAT THE HEAT
Splash pads have become increasingly popular as cooling zones in communities, as they provide an accessible, family-friendly space that everyone can enjoy. And because admission to splash pads is typically free, they are available to anyone who may want to utilize them. Leveraging aquatic play facilities like these in communities is a great way to not only bolster the local economy and entice people to get outside and play but can also act as crucial escapes for those who may not have easy access to air conditioning or other in-home cooling systems.
If you’ve noticed that the summers are feeling hotter for longer, you’re not alone! Extended periods of high temperatures are becoming more frequent around the world and as a result, municipalities are constantly on the lookout for new ways to implement cooling zones in their communities. These public cooling zones provide community members with a place to beat the heat and cool down on those scorching days.
ENHANCES INCLUSIVITY & ACCESSIBILITY
One of the biggest benefits of introducing a splash pad to your community is the fact that they promote both accessibility and inclusivity. Waterplay designs splash pads with these factors in mind, aiming to create fun aquatic play spaces that can be enjoyed by everyone. Breaking a splash pad up into different zones allows for separation between features, allowing smaller waterplayers to enjoy quieter areas with gentle, low-flow water features while older waterplayers can take the thrills to new heights by engaging with features such as dump buckets, water cannons, and activity towers in another section of the splash pad.
With their inherently inclusive design, splash pads are a great way for communities to create spaces that are aimed at welcoming everyone, regardless of their physical ability, age, or financial means. Their zero-depth design and flat, smooth surfaces make them maneuverable for those who use mobility aids, and a wide array of water features ensures that there is something fun for everyone to enjoy. Often free to use, splash pads are also a fantastic option for those with financial barriers and limitations, creating public gathering places for everyone – kids and adults alike – to enjoy.
With so many great benefits to highlight, it’s no surprise that splash pads are becoming increasingly popular additions to communities around the world. They offer opportunities for cooperation and collaboration while still providing safe, accessible spaces that emphasize fun and play! Investing in a splash pad shows a commitment to the overall well-being of your community and as they continue to increase in popularity, splash pads will continue to be vital in enhancing overall quality of life in your area.