Located in Punta Cana on the coast of the Dominican Republic, Lopesan’s Costa Bavaro Resort offers 5-star accommodations and amenities to provide guests with an oceanfront Caribbean experience. Among the features on this 27-acre property is a 16,146 sq. ft. aquatic play area named Splash Island, the result of the creative collaboration between Martin Aquatic Design & Engineering and WhiteWater West and installation by Inside Edge. Splash Island’s main attraction is an elevated play structure by WhiteWater complete with slides and spray features. This area is augmented by integrated natural landscaping elements functioning as “islands” and Life Floor surfacing, which pairs theming with our tiles’ slip-resistant and impact-attenuating properties. Our High Tide color combination of blue tiles is featured in the main play area while sandy colors speckle the deck to simulate a beach where parents relax as children and teenagers play. The pairing of Life Floor surfacing with WhiteWater’s multi-level play structure and the other spray features on-site creates an attraction committed to both adventurous play and safety.
Large landscaped “islands” separate the larger risky play area from the adjacent splash pad where smaller children may feel more comfortable. These different zones help shape children’s development at different stages. Any type of water play for infants and toddlers can be seen as risky from their perspective. For instance, interacting with spray features on a splash pad is often a new and exciting experience. Life Floor surfacing enables this type of early water play and exploration while also providing cushioning for potential falls from wobbly footing at this age.
Children will ultimately seek out more adventurous activities as they get older. It is important for facilities, when possible, to include more advanced risky play features such as the elevated play structure, slides, and spray features seen at Splash Island. These play elements inspire them to explore and develop the skills necessary in adulthood to make good choices and have fun. Life Floor promotes this risky play by encouraging children to play how they were meant to: without fear of falling or getting seriously injured. By providing a slip-resistant and cushioned safety surface, children are supported in their activities and are emboldened to create their own stories as they interact with each other and the features at Splash Island.
We all love to see visible joy on children’s faces when they spend an exciting day imagining, discovering, and exploring in environments that cater to adventurous play. To explore other projects where we’ve lived out our mission to increase play value and make aquatic areas safer for children around the world, head to our Portfolio.