Life Floor’s versatile installations.
Safety in Mind Jonathan Keller accounts for the evolution of splash pad safety surfaces ecent decades have seen playgrounds around the world evolve to offer ever improving levels of safety, driven by R regulations and standards. Protection from needless accidents was driven in the USA by the publication in 1981 of the Handbook for Public Playground Safety while in Australia, with industry input, Standards Australia have driven an ongoing reduction in playground risks. As a result, the equipment in playgrounds of yesteryear is barely recognisable when compared to those of today. Less noticeable, but no less significant, have been developments in impact absorbing surfacing for playgrounds, with no playground today built without safety surfacing whether it is woodchips, rubberised cushioning or shredded rubber, each facility has safety in mind. Splash pad surfacing Splash pads, essentially playgrounds with water features, have appeared in many communities over the last 25 years as a unique aquatic adaptation and alternative to traditional playgrounds. However, splash pad safety standards have lagged behind those of ‘dry’ playgrounds by having poor safety features and sometimes less than inspiring designs. An example of this saw many early splash pads utilising concrete as a surface, even though concrete is inherently abrasive, dull, and unforgiving to accidental slip and falls. While concrete is one of the most budget-friendly materials to use, it does not ultimately provide superior safety and design benefits 48 Australasian Leisure Management Issue 141
for guests engaging with facilities. As Briana Massie, Marketing Manager at Life Floor, explains “childhood is a time of limitless imagination, boundless creativity, and wild invention. It’s the one time in life when exploration is encouraged freely without the weight of daily responsibilities other than formal learning and helping with chores. “The freedom of being young displays itself in many ways, one of which is free play. Free play is critical to a child’s development. It enables them to problem solve, think critically, develop stories, and innovate. One method of free play continues to evolve as children explore aquatic environments, such as splash pads.” Traditionally, surfacing has been overlooked in aquatic facilities, often being seen as a strictly useful part of the facility that only functions as a foundation for the features to rest on. However, as the aquatics industry matures, increasingly more facility owners and operators are realising that this foundation can be capitalised on. That blank slate of concrete can be transformed into an engaging, colourful, beautifully designed space that enhances play value while increasing safety features simultaneously. Elevating design includes enhanced theming to match the facility, incorporating play elements that encourage new ways of play while utilising every surface. Kelsi Goss, Life Floor’s Vice President of Design, notes “splash pads can enhance guest experience by including games in the surface design.
