2023 MAKE A SPLASH! GRANT CONTEST NEED-BASED WINNER INSTALLATION: John Anderson Park

In 2023, we hosted our fourth annual Make a SPLASH! Grant Contest to award two deserving organizations in the United States an all-expenses-paid splash pad surface. One award was for a facility that exemplified inclusive design principles and the other was need-based for a deserving community that met specific benchmark criteria.

We received an incredible number of thoughtful applications and out of so many deserving entries, one of the entries we received stood out.

Today, we’re proud to showcase the Need-Based Award winner’s installation: John Anderson Park Splash Pad in Grandview, Missouri.

When asked what winning this grant would mean to their community, Jared Elbert said,

“This would mean so much to the community. Grandview, MO, part of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, is a minority majority community with a population of nearly 27,000. This is a very strong, tight knit community that is growing but also one with challenges. The median income of Grandview is $48,000/year which means free amenities such as splash pads and playgrounds are of upmost importance. John Anderson park and its splash pad are crucial to youths access to free and safe recreation opportunities.

It can be challenging to maintain the original excitement of a 14 year old splash park. In winning this grant it would allow the community to enhance safety, aesthetics, and bring excitement back to Grandview’s only free splash park. It would increase the quality of life for residents, mean the world to the neighborhoods within walking distance, as well as the community and visitors. ”

— Jared Elbert, Parks & Recreation Director

Before: Broom Finish Stained Concrete

After: Life Floor

“ It would significantly upgrade the safety of the site for guest by switching from concrete to the safer Life Floor, while also reducing liability concerns from a staff perspective. Guests will have a greater piece of mind when allowing their children to utilize the splash park and socialize. It would enhance the beautification and experience by bringing eye catching color and patterns to the park. ”

— Jared Elbert, Parks & Recreation Director

Existing Waterplay spray features from their High Seas Collection laid the groundwork for this immersive experience complete with a sailing ship, whale tail, and palm tree. Four sound sprays are interspersed throughout the amenity where children can activate and listen to different sounds including a whale, dolphin, penguin and seagull. Dynamic ground sprays encourage motion throughout the entire area and our tiles now weave between their features with a treasure hunt surface game designed to excite and inspire imagination.

Our 2023 entrants chose from 6 pre-designed themes that would be tailored to fit their project scope. The city of Grandview chose the Treasure Hunt option which features a bright triangle gradient Pattern in a custom color palette of Bluebird, Turquoise, Seafoam, and Mojave. A mix of Sea Life, Marine, and Treasure Hunt Inlays can be seen across the splash pad in both neutral and complementing colors.

Designed and Copyrighted by Life Floor Studio.

We can’t wait to hear the stories of how this project will continue to uplift and transform the way families play at John Anderson Park in Grandview, Missouri. Thank you to the city of Grandview for entering our contest and for trusting us to surface your community’s splash pad!

Keep an eye out for our project showcase highlighting our Inclusive Design Award winner coming soon!

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About the Make a SPLASH! Grant Contest

The Make a SPLASH! Grant Contest is one of our team’s favorite annual events. We love giving back to our communities across the United States and seeing the difference our surfaces make. Through this grant contest, our goal is to uplift communities across the country each year with beautiful and accessible splash pad surfaces that enhance positive memories for years to come.

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THE 5TH ANNUAL MAKE A SPLASH! GRANT CONTEST IS
OPEN FOR ENTRIES

Don’t miss these two opportunities to win free Life Floor surfacing for your splash pad!

Storytelling in Aquatics

When people think of themed entertainment and attractions that tell strong stories, they often picture immersive lands and the iconic dark rides of traditional theme parks. Aquatic attractions are occasionally designed with themed elements in the foreground, but they're usually treated as spaces to gather rather than to explore.

Some of the most successful waterparks function like theme parks with flowing narratives and creative details that spark imagination and bring stories to life.

Photo Credit: Disney’s Blizzard Beach

Take Disney’s Blizzard Beach for example where an unexpected snowstorm landed in central Florida leading to the state’s first ski resort. Or Universal’s Volcano Bay with its backstory rooted in the Waturi discovering a new island to call home. Similar to traditional theme parks, these aquatic spaces benefit greatly from imaginative storytelling and cohesive design elements. 

Photo Credit: Universal’s Runamukka Reef

While Life Floor functions primarily as an aquatic surfacing solution, our projects are often featured within a broader context and designed to match specific themes, stories, or aesthetics. These installations are found on cruise ships, within water parks, at resorts, and at municipal facilities worldwide.

As each of these projects come to life, we consider the stories our floors tell. We think about how they contribute to theming, how they can add dimensionality to create a more immersive environment, and how specialty elements add play opportunities for guests. Throughout each of these design exercises, we contemplate the overarching role of storytelling in aquatic environments.

Photo Credit: Royal Caribbean Cruise Line

Adding a story or a theme to a space creates an immersive experience that transports guests to a different world. While the vast majority of aquatic spaces trend toward underwater or beach themes, the diversity of design potential is endless. From forest-themed splash pads to outer space-inspired waterparks, we’ve witnessed spectacular ideas come to life.

Themed elements inspire imaginative play and create engaging experiences for guests. Starting with an overarching narrative, intentional design decisions can be made to truly create an environment that aligns with any vision.  

So how exactly do designers of aquatic spaces execute on a story or a theme? Large 3D elements are often the main focal points. Spray features, play structures, slides, and sculptures draw guests’ attention immediately. Curated considerations like furniture, landscaping, and rockwork tie into these elements as well. Surface designers craft the appearance of signage, vertical panels on play structures, themed walls, and artwork around facilities to create enhanced visuals throughout. Sound and lighting bring an environment to life by creating an ambiance keyed into the senses to illuminate storytelling details. Setting the scene with the right tone is critical to completing an atmosphere and achieving the right effect.

From a flooring perspective, stories are told through themed Inlays, life-sized objects, game boards, and even character IP. Sometimes it involves including a certain color palette or geometric element that ties a design together or evokes a certain environment. We always look for ways to create a thematic scene or blend our floor into the rest of the aquatic setting. Together, all of these design considerations have the potential to tell a story at each facility, no matter the scale. 

Throughout the coming year, we look forward to exploring these elements in further detail. We’ll feature stories that take a peek behind the curtain to describe the design and engineering processes of iconic projects. We’ll also illuminate the ways that other suppliers and designers consider storytelling when specifying certain components to craft these themed spaces. Exploring this topic within the aquatics industry wouldn’t be complete without highlighting the actual stories of many of the key leaders within this space. Overall, we look forward to engaging with the larger community and sharing more about how our partners continue to innovate as they design these themed aquatic attractions. 

We’d love to hear from other creatives within the industry. If you’d like to join in on the conversation, please email our VP of Design, Kelsi Goss, to get involved!