As summer winds down and pools close for the season, many communities are already thinking ahead to next year. The big question being: Is maintaining a traditional pool the best way to provide safe, fun water play for families? For many municipalities, schools, and park systems, the answer is increasingly no. Traditional pools come with staffing and maintenance challenges that are often hard to keep up with. That’s where splash pads come in. Splash pads and spray parks are a safe, fun, and cost-effective solution to traditional pools, providing many benefits and eliminating headaches that come with swimming pools. Let’s compare the two.
Lower Costs, Less Maintenance
Pools are expensive. Between staffing lifeguards, purchasing chemicals, maintaining pumps and filters, and covering utilities, costs add up fast. Pools require constant, year-round upkeep. Splash pads, on the other hand, deliver the same level of excitement at a fraction of the cost. Splash pads operate seasonally, require much less staffing needs, and have lower chemical, water, and heating costs. Modern recirculation systems make them environmentally responsible, too, by conserving water while still creating an engaging waterplay experience. For municipalities trying to provide the community with a place to stay cool without the huge investment in a swimming pool, splash pads are a no-brainer budget friendly solution.
Read more: Surprising Ways That Splash Pad Equipment Can Reduce Water Waste
Safety for All Ages
One of the biggest advantages of splash pads is their safety. With no standing water, the risk of drowning is virtually eliminated. Not only that, but the best quality splash pad surfacing is slip-resistant, made of a flip-flop-like material that actually gets more resistant as it gets wet. And, when thoughtfully laid out, splash pads give parents peace of mind. Our splash pads are inherently inclusive, because we always design them to meet and exceed ADA standards. Water is a sensory play element that provides a unique creative play experience that engages all ages and abilities, and splash pads are flush to the ground, allowing for ease of access for children with mobility issues. A well-designed splash pad lets kids of all ages run, play, and explore freely, and caters to a wide range of children and families.
Designed for Everyone
Unlike pools, which often require swim skills or paid memberships, splash pads are open, inclusive spaces where everyone is welcome. No swim lessons necessary! They are designed to be free public spaces often provided by the local municipality, removing barriers to entry. As we discussed, they’re also accessible for children and adults with mobility challenges, and they create a shared space where entire families can enjoy the outdoors together. Splash pads are the perfect solution to bring the entire community together, especially on hot days in summer. Not only do they provide a perfect plan for family activities, but a fantastic safe space for caregivers to entertain kiddos when summer heat makes going to the park a bit more difficult.
Environmental Benefits
Today’s splash pads are engineered with sustainability in mind, providing a water-saving solution. Recirculation systems reduce water use by recirculating water to be reused after chemical treatment. In addition, motion sensors and timed spray features ensure water flows only when children are actively playing, which has a significant impact on consumption. In some communities, splash pads even connect with irrigation systems, using play water to help keep surrounding landscapes green and support local community gardens. Splash pads knock traditional pools out of the water on these sustainability measures, making spray parks an incredibly beneficial choice for the environment.
Read more: Stay Cool With Splash Pads and Spray Parks
A Lasting Community Investment
Splash pads provide so much more than a place to stay cool. They create a community hub that will excite locals and attract neighbors, encouraging healthy lifestyles that extend beyond your community at large. They encourage healthy play, bring families together, and often become the centerpiece of a park or local gathering space. They create a safe and comfortable place for kids to meet their peers and caregivers to find community, especially when they’re part of a larger park system. When combined with playgrounds, fitness equipment, shade structures, or smart restrooms, they transform into vibrant hubs of activity that serve everyone.
Is your community ready for something better than a traditional pool? Choose the smarter alternative that is safer, more cost-effective, and more inclusive. MRC Recreation has helped bring so many communities’ water play projects to life. Let’s start the conversation today so your community is ready for next summer.