Filed under: New Park, Spray Play Parks | Tags: City of Eugene Parks and Open Space, Eugene, Spray Play Parks, Washington Park
Childhood memories of playing in the wading pool on hot summer days have become a thing of the past for Eugene locals. Recently, all wading pools in Eugene were required to install a pricey re-circulating and disinfecting water system or be closed after this past summer. This is the result of changing state health regulations, which were set in place to increase user safety when using wading pools.
But fear not, the city of Eugene has decided to convert these traditional wading pools into a park of the twenty-first century. Wading pools in the area will be transformed into interactive spray play parks, the first of which will be 5.5 acre Washington Park. Construction is planned to begin next summer.
Interactive spray play parks incorporate many different styles of user-activated fountains and jets to create a playful environment for summertime fun. There are elements for toddlers to play with, as well as older children. The upside to these unique, revolutionary parks is that unlike other water parks, they have no standing water, and therefore do not require chemical treatment, re-circulating systems, or lifeguards. Not to mention, for less restricted fun, they don’t run on a time schedule. These spray features are triggered by the touch of a button seven days a week.
According to the Eugene Parks and Open Space website, priorities of the park include:
* Visually appealing space both when in use and not.
* Age specific areas for safety and with good flow, fully accessible.
* Integrated landscaping.
* Comfortable areas for families and caregivers, plenty of seating and shade.
* Soft edges and curves.
* Stimulating, interactive, and unexpected elements.
* Use of the concrete surface as a design element.
* Inspired by nature and water.
* Incorporate local artists.
The Eugene Parks Foundation is working with the City of Eugene to raise $200,000 by this spring for construction of the new park. Sponsorship opportunities are available, including naming rights of the park for a $100,000 donation. Yes, the wading pools of old are gone, however, Eugene Parks and Open Spaces is very interested in the opinion of the public. They are welcoming suggestions or criticisms and very much want the input of the community for Eugene’s largest state of the art spray play park. Take a look at the design concepts and join the conversation!
1. Washington Park Information
2. Spray Parks are Making a Splash Around the U.S.
http://govpro.com/news/SprayparksmakingsplasharoundUS/
http://www.fountaineers.co.uk/playparks.htm
4. Regulations a Drain on Wading Pools in City Parks
http://www.kval.com/news/39809447.html
http://www.leeandassociatesinc.com/local_spraypark.html
Blog by: Jordan Roskelley
