Morris Playing Fields Splash Pad - London Colney London Colney Parish Council

Main Features:

• Wetpour Surface
• Artificial Grass Surround
• Shade Awnings
• Café Kiosk
• 15 individual water play features
• Sea Scoundrel Ship
• Ocean Theme

Existing Site

As part of a renovation of an underused paddling pool, London Colney Parish Council issued a tender for this exciting development project.

The site featured an existing paddling pool, which we were tasked to transform into a modern splash pad. Surrounding the area was a concrete slabbed surface, a low wall, and a grassed section.

The plant room consisted of a small, block-built structure that housed the equipment for the original paddling pool.

Design

As part of a renovation of an underused paddling pool, London Colney Parish Council put the project out to tender, initiating this exciting transformation. The Splash responded with a fresh, ocean-themed concept, revitalising the old paddling pool into a dynamic splash pad experience.

The new design features standout elements such as the tall Sea Horse Shower, and the Sea Scoundrel Ship, complete with tipping buckets that create dramatic water crashes. Surrounding the splash pad, artificial grass and shade awnings were added to enhance comfort and usability. To complete the transformation, a Café Kiosk was also installed, turning the area into a fully functional and family-friendly destination.

We included the café and fence line in our concept design to give the client a comprehensive visual of the final layout. This provided them with engaging content for social media and online platforms, helping to showcase the entirety of the project to the public.

The splash pad is built around a ship adventure theme, allowing children to engage in imaginative play—whether it’s boarding the ship, fighting off pirates, or sailing the seas in search of treasure. At the centre stands the Soaking Sails, equipped with two tipping buckets and a customisable sail that can include the council’s logo, proudly representing the community behind the project.

In front of this is the Sea Scoundrel Prow, one of our most popular features, known for its interactive panel with polycarbonate domes and post-mounted water jets, offering multi-level play. In the corner, you’ll find the vibrant Sea Horse Shower, a fun character spraying an aerated blast of water—perfect for deep-sea roleplay and aquatic exploration.

Additional features include the Arching Water Fence and Water Spider, both producing arching water streams that children can crawl under, simulating an underwater adventure. To complete the sensory experience, we utilised a coloured wetpour surface arranged in a beach-style design, creating a gentle and inviting space for younger or less confident users to safely engage with water play.

After winning the tender, we also worked closely with the council to introduce a shade sail over the seating area. The sail colours were matched to the council's logo, further reinforcing their identity and celebrating the community’s role in bringing this fantastic asset to life.

Construction Phase

Access to the site at London Colney was via a small, busy road leading into a compact car park that also had restricted height access. Once the height barrier was opened, two banksmen were required to manage traffic flow safely from the main road through the car park.

As the splash park was located within a large public park that remained open during construction, public safety was a top priority. The access route and safety procedures were carefully planned and agreed upon during the tender process to ensure the public remained protected at all times.

The splash pad itself is situated at the top of the playing fields, approximately the length of two football pitches from the car park. To facilitate construction access and minimise damage to the playing fields, we installed a temporary access road leading directly to the site.

Throughout the project, the entire work area was enclosed with Heras fencing, providing a secure perimeter and ensuring continuous public safety.

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.