The Challenge:
The existing leisure pool area needed a refresh to create a more engaging and interactive experience for children and families. The project involved removing a 30-year-old slide, redeveloping the splashpad and refurbishing two slides to create a vibrant, interactive environment that builds water confidence for children of all ages and abilities.
Our Solution
We designed and installed a multi-level interactive water play system to create an exciting, inclusive environment and increase water confidence in children of all ages and abilities. The new 98 m² play area combines colourful features, interactive water effects and opportunities for sensory, social and cause-and-effect play, making use of the existing water supplies.
Key features included:
- Toddler slides – a vibrant double-lane slide finishing into an aquacatch, providing an exciting introduction to water-based play
- Water umbrella – creates a circular water curtain as water flows over the umbrella, offering a fun and engaging sensory experience
- Themed water cannons – four rotating sea-creature cannons allow children to control the direction of the water, encouraging interactive and social play
- Interactive wall panels – bright underwater-themed panels incorporate moving parts, mirrors, water jets, bowls and channels, allowing children to explore and manipulate the movement of water at both high and low levels
- Water factory – a multi-level structure featuring tipping buckets, fish squirts, spray rails, pipefalls, waterwheels and splash buckets. The varied water effects create anticipation and encourage children to interact with the feature for longer periods
- Random tipping buckets – three extra-large tipping and splash buckets operate in a random sequence, creating anticipation and memorable splash moments throughout the play area
- Flume traffic lights – sensor-controlled systems were installed on the Whizz and Green Slides, accurately detecting riders at the top and bottom of each flume to improve safety and maximise rider experience
- Slide refurbishment – the two slides were fully relined using a durable epoxy lining system and recoated to give the attractions a refreshed finish
- Life Floor – the existing seabed safety surface was replaced with Life Floor, a specialist non-slip flooring system designed specifically for wet, barefoot aquatic environments.
The Result
The refreshed leisure pool now provides a vibrant and highly interactive destination for children and families, with a diverse range of water play features designed to encourage exploration, discovery and water confidence.
The combination of new interactive play, refurbished slides, improved safety systems and upgraded flooring has given the facility a new lease of life, creating memorable experiences for families, while enhancing the safety, functionality and longevity of the existing play offering.
Project Feedback
Emma Beavis, Area Manager – Freedom Leisure
“The transformation of the leisure pool at Guildford Spectrum operated by Freedom Leisure on behalf of Guildford Borough Council has been fantastic. By replacing ageing features with a vibrant, interactive water play environment, we have created a destination that offers something for children of all ages and abilities. The new attractions encourage exploration, social interaction and the development of water confidence, while the refurbished slides, enhanced safety systems and upgraded flooring have significantly improved the overall customer experience. This investment has given the facility a new lease of life, providing local families with even more reasons to visit, stay longer and create lasting memories together.“