Exploring Inclusive Water Play Design
Splash pads have rapidly become one of the most popular water play features in parks and recreational areas, celebrated for their innovative design and inherent inclusivity. At Whirlix Design, we are committed to creating outdoor recreation spaces that welcome individuals of all abilities. In this blog post, we delve into the accessibility of splash pads, explore the principles of inclusive design, and highlight real-world examples that demonstrate how thoughtful design can transform a splash pad into a truly welcoming space.
In recent years, splash pads have emerged as recreational spaces that promise fun for everyone. Unlike traditional swimming pools, splash pads eliminate the need for swimming skills and deep water, theoretically reducing barriers to entry. However, achieving true accessibility goes beyond meeting basic ADA requirements. Inclusive design in water play means creating an environment where every community member feels welcomed and valued.
As Jill Moore, Inclusive Play Specialist at Landscape Structures, explains, "Play and communities have evolved, acknowledging the valuable contributions of individuals with disabilities. New and forthcoming inclusive design celebrates this, ensuring that everyone who enters a park and play environment feels welcomed and valued" (Moore, 2024). The inherent qualities of water—its ability to bring people together, engage the senses, and offer educational and therapeutic opportunities—make it an ideal medium for inclusive recreation.
THE PROMISE OF INCLUSIVE DESIGN IN SPLASH PADS
Splash pads naturally embody several inclusive design principles. They offer a safe and engaging alternative to traditional water facilities by providing:
- Naturally inclusive - Water brings together people of all ages and abilities. Its fluid nature creates an environment where physical limitations often become less restrictive, allowing for spontaneous play and exploration.
- Sensory exploration - Splash pads engage multiple senses, allowing users to control the intensity of their water experience. From gentle misting stations that provide subtle tactile stimulation to more dynamic spraying elements that create visual and auditory experiences, these varied sensory inputs can be particularly beneficial for individuals with sensory processing needs.
- Educational opportunities - Interactive water features can be tailored to different developmental stages, making learning fun and accessible.
- Physical Development - Water play naturally encourages movement, balance, and coordination as children navigate through different spray patterns and features. The resistance of water provides gentle strength-building opportunities, making it an ideal medium for physical activity for all ability levels.
- Social Development - Well-designed splash pads encourage interaction, fostering confidence and cooperation. The open layout invites collaborative play where children can interact regardless of ability level, creating natural opportunities for social skills development and friendship formation.
These benefits highlight why splash pads have become symbols of modern, inclusive design, but they also bring to light the challenges that must be addressed to achieve true accessibility.
Common Accessibility Challenges in Splash Pad Design
Despite the promise of splash pads as inclusive water play areas, there are several common challenges that can impede their accessibility. For instance, inconsistent design standards remain problematic—while many facilities meet basic ADA requirements, they often lack critical features like tactile markers for visually impaired users and properly ramped access points. Without these elements, even "compliant" splash pads may fail to serve all community members effectively.
Regular maintenance is equally crucial for accessibility. Worn surfaces, damaged features, and malfunctioning equipment create both disappointing experiences and potential safety hazards, particularly for users with disabilities who rely on predictable, functional environments.
The one-size-fits-all approach to design presents another significant barrier. Fixed-height activation buttons and non-adjustable water controls may work for some users while excluding others with mobility or dexterity limitations. True accessibility requires customizable elements that accommodate diverse physical abilities and promote independent use.
Sensory considerations often receive insufficient attention in splash pad design. The bright colors, high water pressure, and loud effects that create excitement for many can overwhelm individuals with sensory processing disorders. Accessibility demands balanced designs with adjustable intensities, quieter zones, and thoughtfully selected visual elements.
Control mechanisms frequently pose challenges as well. Poorly positioned activation buttons and complex controls can restrict independence for users with limited reach or manual dexterity, undermining the inclusive potential of the entire facility.
Creating truly accessible splash pads requires ongoing commitment beyond initial construction. Communities must continually evaluate and update designs, implement rigorous maintenance protocols, and incorporate diverse user feedback to ensure these spaces welcome everyone.
Case Study: Aces for Autism, North Carolina
When Aquatix by Landscape Structures® and Carolina Parks & Play partnered with the regional autism school in eastern North Carolina, they created a splash pad specifically designed to support the 180 children they serve. Opened in January 2024, this 1,256-square-foot splash pad demonstrates how thoughtful design can create truly inclusive water play environments.
Key Features:
- Design principles ensure accessibility across the entire space, with clear pathways and intuitive layout
- HydroLogix® system provides consistent, predictable water flow that can be adjusted for different sensory needs, allowing staff to modify water pressure and patterns based on individual children's comfort levels
- Carefully spaced play elements accommodate mobility devices, ensuring that children using wheelchairs or other mobility aids can navigate between features easily
- Various water effects including gentle misting areas for those with sensory sensitivities, providing options for children who prefer less intense water experiences
- Strategic use of colors to support users with visual processing differences, with consideration for contrast, brightness levels, and color combinations that are easier to perceive for children with different visual processing needs
The school reports that water play has become an essential part of their therapeutic programming, with many children experiencing social engagement and sensory regulation benefits.
Case Study: Parkersburg City Park, West Virginia
As the third-largest city in West Virginia, Parkersburg needed a splash pad that would serve its 31,000 residents plus a regional outreach of 160,000 people. Aquatix by Landscape Structures® and Sparks@Play designed and installed a 7,642-square-foot splash pad that has become a model of inclusive design.
Key Features:
- Large HydraHub2 structure designed for wheelchair accessibility throughout, featuring ramps, transfer stations, and sufficient turning radius for mobility devices
- 796 GPM recirculation system supporting diverse water play experiences that can be simultaneously enjoyed by users with different abilities and preferences
- Age-appropriate zones that accommodate different developmental needs, allowing families with children of varying ages and abilities to find suitable play areas
- AquaGather Stations positioned for accessibility by wheelchair users, with activation buttons at multiple heights and designs that accommodate different reaching abilities
- Variety of water effects from misting to streaming to accommodate sensory preferences, creating a gradient of sensory experiences from gentle to more dynamic
Since opening, the Parkersburg splash pad has seen dramatically increased usage by families with members who have disabilities, who previously felt excluded from traditional aquatic recreation.
ELEMENTS OF TRULY INCLUSIVE SPLASH PAD DESIGN
A truly inclusive splash pad design goes well beyond the water play area itself, incorporating a range of supportive elements to ensure that everyone can enjoy the facility.
BEYOND THE SPLASH PAD
- Accessible Parking: Sufficient ADA spaces close to the entrance, with clear, obstacle-free pathways from parking to the splash pad entrance and appropriate signage
- Restroom Facilities: Universal changing tables and benches designed for people of all ages and abilities, with doorways wide enough for mobility devices and fixtures at appropriate heights
- Support Amenities: Showers with hand-held options, shade structures strategically placed to cover play areas and seating, and seating areas designed for wheelchair users and companions
- Supervision Considerations: Sight lines that allow caregivers to monitor play while encouraging independence, with seating positioned to provide oversight without interference
- Clear Signage: Visual indicators using universal symbols, tactile elements for those with visual impairments, and simple language that can be understood by all users regardless of reading ability or language background
WITHIN THE SPLASH PAD DESIGN
- Variety of Water Features: Both low-profile elements that are accessible for users with mobility challenges and taller features like dumping buckets that provide different play experiences and visual stimulation
- Interactive and Stationary Products: Supporting both active play for those seeking dynamic movement and quieter, gentler water experiences for those who prefer less stimulation or have sensory sensitivities
- Diverse Water Effects: Misting areas for gentle sensory input, streaming water for more dynamic play, dumping features for surprise elements, and sheets of water that create immersive experiences—all designed to offer options for different sensory preferences
- Thoughtful Color Selection: Consideration for color blindness with high-contrast combinations, avoidance of overwhelming patterns, and colors chosen to help users distinguish between different zones or features
- Appropriate Spacing: Ensuring mobility devices can navigate the entire space with sufficient room between features, clearly defined pathways, and non-slip surfaces throughout
Why Inclusive Design Matters
With 16% of people under 65 having a disability and childhood obesity rates at 19.6%, inclusive design is essential for community wellbeing. Inclusive splash pads offer intergenerational recreation where families play together, strengthening bonds across generations and abilities.
These spaces provide significant therapeutic benefits—promoting physical wellness through active play while offering sensory stimulation and emotional support. This combination helps improve health outcomes and can address childhood obesity through engaging physical activity.
Inclusive design transforms public spaces into community hubs where diversity is celebrated. When everyone can access recreational spaces, they foster social engagement, empowerment, and independence. This creates a more equitable society where the benefits of outdoor play and active living are universally shared.
The Future of Inclusive Water Play
The future of splash pads includes designs that adapt to user needs in real-time—smart systems that customize water pressure, spray intensity, and ambient sound levels to individual preferences. Imagine splash pads that automatically calibrate water jets based on sensory preferences, creating personalized experiences for children with processing disorders while enhancing safety for all users.
Sustainability will become increasingly central to inclusive design, with eco-friendly materials and energy-efficient systems becoming standard. Recycled water systems and solar-powered pumps will reduce environmental impact while maintaining dynamic play experiences.
Future splash pads will feature modular components that evolve with community needs and technological advances, allowing for targeted updates without complete facility overhauls. Enhanced data analytics will optimize maintenance and monitor usage patterns, ensuring accessibility is consistently maintained.
Companies like Aquatix by Landscape Structures® are pushing beyond compliance to create truly welcoming environments by continuously engaging with communities, incorporating diverse feedback, and pioneering inclusive design innovations.
So, Are Splash Pads Truly Accessible and Inclusive?
The answer is both yes and no. Splash pads have inherent characteristics that make them more accessible than many other recreational facilities, but true accessibility requires intentional design, ongoing maintenance, and community engagement.
When thoughtfully created—like the projects in North Carolina and West Virginia—splash pads can indeed welcome everyone. They become vibrant community hubs where people of all abilities experience the simple joy of water play together.
At Whirlix Design, we're committed to making this inclusive vision a reality in every project we undertake, showcasing innovative designs like those from Carolina Parks & Play and Sparks@Play. Because water play should be a delight that everyone can access!
Want to learn more about creating truly inclusive outdoor recreation spaces for your community? Contact us today for a consultation.