Public playspaces including splash pads and playgrounds are critical assets for healthy childhood development for kids and vital to the health and resilience of kids and communities. However, due to necessary COVID-19 public health measures, public playspaces across the United States closed this spring. As water playgrounds across the country reopen, it is paramount that […]
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Provide Aquatic Play Areas For All
Showcased in Recreation Management Spraygrounds have gained in popularity over the past couple of decades, providing water fun on hot summer days. And with many park and recreation organizations aiming to expand their amenities to provide opportunities for people of all ages and abilities, it’s good to know that creating an inclusive splash pad experience […]
Shakopee’s Splash Pad Opens at Lion’s Park
A proposal for the installation of an all-inclusive splash pad in Lions Park was unanimously approved by the Shakopee City Council on May 21. Shakopee native Greg Stoks, managing director for the water division of Landscape Structures, Aquatix®, has offered the city the patent-pending hydraulic activator system, along with 11 water fountain features such as […]
Accepting Applications for Parks & Recreation State Speaker Scholarship Program
Landscape Structures Inc. is accepting applications for its 11th annual Parks & Recreation State Speaker Scholarship program. The program offered will provide $2,500 to support hosting keynote speakers at 2019-2020 state parks and recreation associations’ or regional or annual conferences. Since the scholarship program’s inception in 2009, Landscape Structures has awarded more than 240 scholarships […]
Creating a splash for the whole community
It is easy to be overwhelmed in the design option variety offered by Aquatix® by Landscape Structures. The best practice is to design your splash pad for play value and variability. Start by answering the following questions: Who will use the splash pad? What types of spray features should you include? Where is your water […]
Plan an Inclusive Splash Pad
Splash pads are a great way to make aqua play accessible for children and families. Even though a splash pad may be accessible to those with differing abilities, this does not inherently make it fully inclusive. Nor does designing bigger and more exciting splash pads make the water play area more inclusive. In fact, bigger […]
Planning a Community Splash Pad: Goals and Development
The second installment of our educational series on how to create a community splash pad is focusing on the goals of the splash pad and its development. The last post focused on items to be accomplished in the pre-planning stage. Goals By creating your project’s goals, decision makers and planners can refer to the objectives […]
Month of May is National Water Safety Month
National Water Safety Month 2019 kicks off on May 1st! As spring and summer temperatures climb in many parts of the world, participation in water play increases exponentially. Splash pads, water parks, and pools are a great option to cool down while developing key skills through play. In order to participate in these activities safely, […]
Creating a Community Splash Pad: Benefits and Pre-Planning
Planning a community splash pad can seem like an intimidating process. There are many aspects to consider in order to make the investment successful. In this series, we will be offering guidance on what to expect, steps to take, and planning considerations! There are benefits to investing in a community splash pad. One of the […]
Splash Pad versus Community Pool
Geographical areas that experience their version of “warm weather”, whether that be a few hot months of summer, or relatively mild temperatures nearly year round, are most likely familiar with the concept of a nearby cool-off zone. For many decades, that has meant a community pool where residents and families could gather to seek relief […]