Abbey Park Splash Pad - Evesham Wychavon District Council

Main Features:

• Outdoor Splash Pad
• Wetpour Surface
• Over 17 individual water play features
• Local Park Theme
• Natural Colours
• Concrete Rill with printed cobble effect
• Interactive Weir Gates

Existing Site

The previous splash pad featured colourful archways and spring rockers, but its design didn’t align with the park's natural aesthetic. The client wanted a complete transformation that would create a more immersive, harmonious experience while blending into the park's surroundings.

Design

In collaboration with a landscape designer, we developed a water play experience that integrates seamlessly with the environment. The splash pad uses a single-use water system, fed by the existing mains water supply, ensuring both sustainability and efficiency.

The design’s centerpiece is a custom-designed concrete archway, which creates an interactive experience with cascading water. Engraved to mimic historic structures in the park, the arch serves as a fun focal point while honoring the park’s heritage.

Water features are strategically placed to feed into a concrete rill, which is stenciled to resemble cobblestones. This shallow water channel maximizes water flow and retention while offering an engaging play experience. Traditional cobble rills often lose water through joints, but our design ensures minimal wastage and maintains a true-to-theme aesthetic.

To increase interactivity, four adjustable weir gates are installed along the rill, enabling children to control water flow and experiment with damming and releasing currents. This feature adds both a dynamic and educational element to the design.

A wavy bridge spans the rill, providing sensory play for children of all abilities, including those using wheelchairs.

We also incorporated sculpted boulders with EcoSplash jet lids, offering interactive water effects. EcoSplash, developed in the UK, is a cost-effective, sustainable solution for water play equipment that can be customized to meet specific needs.

For a more budget-friendly alternative to the concrete archway, we designed a stainless-steel water feature. This option delivers a similar interactive experience at a reduced cost, demonstrating our ability to adapt designs to different budgets and council requirements.

Throughout the project, we collaborated closely with the council to refine the design, ensuring it met their vision while applying our expertise to create an engaging, innovative splash pad.

Construction Phase

Site access posed challenges due to the narrow road leading to the park, requiring careful logistics for vehicle deliveries. All deliveries were escorted, with banksmen at each end to ensure safety. Coordinating with suppliers and providing them with site manager contact details helped manage the process smoothly.

Given the splash pad’s proximity to the River Avon, environmental precautions were critical. We equipped the site with spill kits for quick responses to potential chemical spills and used plant nappies to protect machinery overnight. Chemicals and fuel were securely stored in bunded containers to prevent contamination.

Challenges Overcome

Due to the site’s location near a waterway, we added extra chemical storage measures, including a steel container for secure storage. This experience highlighted the importance of safe chemical storage for all future projects, regardless of location.

Through careful planning, innovative design, and sustainable engineering, we successfully delivered a splash pad that enhances the park’s natural beauty while offering an engaging, inclusive water play experience for visitors.

Post-Completion & Safety Inspection

Upon completion, we conducted a thorough independent play inspection to identify and address any potential safety risks and ensure the area conforms to EN 1176/77 Playground standards.