Project: (4606) Clissold Park Splash Pad

Client: London Borough of Hackney Council

Public Consultation and Planning Application: FaulknerBrowns Architects

Aquatic Play Design: Ustigate Waterplay / Vortex International

Project Description: Design and build of a Splash Pad, Changing Places, Shower Facilities and w/c’s

Water Management: Recirculation System

Main Contractor: Ustigate Waterplay

Installation: 2022

Challenge:

A paddling pool was installed at Clissold Park in the 1930’s. Following 90 years of paddling at Clissold Park, the paddling pool arrived at life end in 2020. Hackney Council were aware wise investment of a new facility with automated filtration would reduce water consumption, improve hygiene and restore Clissold Park’s aquatic play heritage for the long term future. Hackney Council and FaulknerBrowns Architects carried out public consultation in 2021 to determine exactly what the community would like in terms of aquatic play and the choice of two locations: The existing paddling pool site or the former bowling green. 1192 of Clissold’s community responded with their preferences – 73% liked or loved a splash pad at the former bowling green (further away from the road), utilising the pavilion for the plant room, w/c’s, showers and café.

Success:

The London Borough of Hackney Council submitted a planning application to establish a splash pad at Clissold Park’s former bowling green and permitted development was granted on 8th December 2021. Hackney Council embarked upon a tender process to appoint a specialist splash pad provider for the works at Clissold Park and Ustigate Waterplay were delighted to be awarded the contract on 21st February 2022. Ustigate’s design and build works included the splash pad and amendments to the interior of the pavilion to accommodate the PWTAG compliant recirculation system, a new toilet and showering facilities. Several aquatic play products were picked out as preferred at public consultation and our design team ensured all community favourites were included. Our project was completed on time and budget, opening in good time on 1st August 2022 for children to enjoy their new splash pad over the summer holidays.

At one end of Clissold Park Splash Pad, thrill seeking water players delight in a saturated soaking under the Supersplash tipping bucket as well as above ground play items offering a choice of overhead sprays via a self-spinning, sprinkling Power Flower, a gentle, misting Leaf, a Seaweed with a multi-jet umbrella water effect and a water blasting Snake. There is plenty of action and motion at Clissold Park Splash Pad with three cannons, a Luna No.1 from award winning Explora, a Butterfly, Frog, Snail and a Sunspray in the mix. Turntec™, Twirltec™ and Twistnozzle™ invite all children to take control of the water direction via active play, incorporating the activities of twisting, turning, pushing, pulling and rotating. Children can rotate their animal characters a full 360″, enjoy some aiming and firing fun and be rewarded with pretty, spiralling water patterns when they take Sunspray for a spin. There is an arched Rainbow offering an all-round misty spray, a Water Tunnel and three little stepping stones offering the activity of bounce and splash, aptly named Hop No.2. All of these play items are surrounded by a variety of ground jets of varying heights and displays. Clissold Park Splash Pad has two double-arched Directional Jet No.2’s, a Rooster Tail with a thick, arched laminar effect, a circular Donut Spray, two gentle, low level, funnel shaped Water Jelly’s, a Team Spray that invites children to work together to create a bigger splash, two tall Side Winders that widen with height and a fully charged Gusher that leaves the ground with force, shooting its vertical water stream high into the air. The splash pad shape has attractive, curvy edges and the surfacing is finished in the bright and cheerful colours selected at public consultation and approved for development at planning permission stage. There is no water depth making Clissold Park Splash Pad 100% inclusive and accessible for all ages and abilities. Our works included the supply and installation of the bowtop fencing and self-closing gates to ensure safety and security. All of our water play products, play surfacing and our fencing and gates are EN certified.

Clissold Park Splash Pad is managed by GLL and open from May through to September. Please click here to book a water play session during the season

2022: Opening of Clissold Park Splash Pad:

Mayor of Hackney, Philip Glanville: “Parks are so important for people in Hackney, and we’re committed to expanding facilities so they can be enjoyed by as many as possible – particularly children, in line with our commitment to build a child friendly borough. With its water sprays, tipping bucket and fountains, this new splash pad will be so much fun for families.”

2023: Reopening of Clissold Park Splash Pad:

Cllr Caroline Woodley, Cabinet Member for Families, Parks and Leisure: “The number of visits to the splash pad last year surpassed all our expectations – and we’re really looking forward to reopening this popular attraction. We remain committed to improving facilities in our parks, which are so important for Hackney residents, particularly those of us who do not have green space of our own. We’re looking forward to working with GLL and local partners to increase accessibility and can’t wait to see kids enjoy the incredible sprays, tipping bucket and fountains this year!”

History:

Clissold Park is a beautiful Grade II listed park in Stoke Newington, Hackney, London. It opened for the first time in 1889. The grounds include Grade II listed Clissold House and an animal enclosure established in 1890. The first Red Deer were gifted by Highbury Park and their offspring were later gifted to four other London parks; Maryon, Victoria, Golders Hill and Battersea. Clissold Park animal residents include deers, goats, chickens and birds in 2022. St Mary’s Church, designed in the Gothic Revival version of the decorated style by George Gilbert Scott, was built in 1858 and contributes to many of the delightful views encompassed within Clissold Park’s 55.8 acres. The River Lee is east of Clissold Park and the park itself includes three ornamental ponds, Beckmere Lake, Runtzmere Lake and New River Pond. Clissold Park is recognised as being one of the best parks in the UK, having held a Green Flag Award since 2006.   In 2007, Clissold Park was voted the Heart of Hackney, in an I Love Hackney Poll organised by Hackney Council.