Project: (4279) Splash n Play at Parson’s Close Recreation Ground, Leighton Buzzard
Client: Leighton-Linslade Town Council
Design and Build: Ustigate WaterplayÂ
Project Description:Â A Community-Led Splash Pad Transformation
Carbon Reduction: Energy Saving Pump Installation and New Trees
Social Value: Design Competitions to Local Schools
Installation: 2026 / Area: 468m²
Parson’s Close Recreation Ground is located in the heart of Leighton Buzzard, just behind the town centre. The park was first awarded its Green Flag in 2015 and has maintained it ever since. The park is home to the very popular Splash n Play facility, a beach, a skate park and also a band stand. A new inclusive adventure play area was opened in 2022. The park is owned and maintained by Leighton-Linslade Town Council
Ustigate Waterplay were delighted to partner with Leighton-Linslade Town Council to deliver the refurbishment of the much-loved Splash n Play at Parson’s Close Recreation Ground. Originally installed in 2011 and welcoming approximately 250,000 visitors annually, the splash pad sits at the heart of one of the town’s most popular parks. The project for the 2026 season focused on enhancing play value, reducing maintenance, and creating a vibrant, inclusive destination shaped by the community it serves.
A Truly Community-Driven Design
At the core of this project was a commitment to meaningful community engagement, placing local children and schools at the centre of the design process.
Splash Pad Floor Design Competition
Local lower schools were invited to take part in a design initiative to shape the nature-inspired wet pour surface. Pupils submitted artwork that captured their imagination, and the winner of the splash pad floor design was Mary Bassett Lower School. A visit to the school was made on 14th April 2026 to officially announce Mary Bassett Lower School as the competition winner and Town Mayor Cllr David Bligh delightedly presented a beautiful, framed display of the winning design. The chosen artwork included caterpillars, frogs, lily pads, butterflies, fish and numbered water bubbles for children to step from numbers one to four. The winning design drawn in pen was digitally recreated by Ustigate Waterplay to ensure all elements were integrated around the water play features, creating a playful, child-led environment that reflected the local creativity.
Wall Mural Competition
The community engagement extended beyond the splash pad itself, incorporating a wall mural competition and the winning design was created by pupils from Beaudesert Lower School. Their collaborative designs were brought together and realised by a local artist and former pupil of Beaudesert Lower School called Daniel Eaton; transforming the space into a vibrant, community-owned environment that celebrates local talent and pride.
Competition Prize
Splash n Play was opened on Friday 1st May 2026, a day before the official opening to the public on Saturday 2nd May 2026, to allow only the winning pupils of Mary Bassett Lower School and Beaudesert Lower School to enjoy first play! The pupil at Mary Bassett Lower School that created the winning artwork played with her friends on the splash pad floor that she created and described it as her best day ever!
Innovative and Inclusive Water Play Features
Splash n Play at Leighton Buzzard has a dynamic mix of interactive and inclusive water play designed to engage all ages and abilities. New aquatic play items include an award winning Twinsplash that delivers a duo of splashes, a fully accessible low level Snail No.4 with 360° rotation and Podspray™ water amplification, and a Link No.2 from the new Vortex International VECTORY™ collection featuring DualSpray™ technology that encourages collaborative play through aiming, turning and spraying. Also included is a very much at home at Leighton Buzzard misting bumble bee with a crawl through tunnel and ten inclusive play panels that maximise accessible and sensory play.
In addition to play improvements, the project included a new energy-efficient pump to reduce operation cost and two foot wash stations and below-grade sand traps to improve cleanliness and reduce maintenance. The fence panels were removed from site, painted in a multitude of bright, cheerful colours and returned to Parson’s Close Recreation Ground.
Enhancing the Natural Environment
Ustigate Waterplay was delighted to supply six black poplar trees, a rare native species, to contribute towards the biodiversity and long-term environmental value at Parson’s Close Recreation Ground, for park visitors and the local community to enjoy all year round.
Six black poplars were left in the good hands of head groundsman and Friends of the Earth Chris to plant at Parson’s Close Recreation Ground. Much work has been done to improve the River Ouzel that runs alongside Parson’s Close Recreation Ground. Many nettles have been removed and as well as increasing Leighton Buzzard’s black poplar tree population, several oak trees have been planted that should grow and last for 2000 years!
A Space Shaped by Its Community
Our Splash n Play project at Parson’s Close Recreation Ground with Leighton-Linslade Town Council is a celebration of creativity, collaboration, play, green credentials and local pride. Splash n Play is a place where the splash pad floor and surrounding walls reflect the imaginations of the children that helped bring it to life. It was an absolute joy working with Leighton-Linslade’s Town Council and their community on this wonderful, community-led project.
Testimonial
Richard Davies, Head of Grounds and Environmental Services:
“In choosing Ustigate as our supplier for this contract, we could not have been happier with the choice we made. We found the whole team engaging and easy to work with from the back office to the boots on the ground. The team often went above and beyond in particular with the training and support of our grounds team.”
