Project: (4471) Lee Splash Park and Playground, Lee on the Solent

Client: Gosport Borough Council

Design: Ustigate Waterplay / Vortex International

Project Description: Design and build of Lee Splash Park and Playground

Water Management: Recirculation System

Main Contractor: Ustigate Waterplay

Installation: 2019 / Area: 348m2 of EPDM wetpour surfacing

Challenge:

The design and build of an inclusive splash park, playground, seating and a new building to accommodate the PWTAG compliant recirculation system, w/c’s and changing places facility. In 2018 Gosport Borough Council embarked upon a strict procurement exercise to source the best for their full scope of works.

Success:

On 9th January 2019 Ustigate were delighted to receive a letter from Gosport Borough Council confirming Ustigate as their preferred supplier. The contract was awarded on 24th January 2019 and our project progressed to ensure Lee Splash Park and Playground would be open for the summer holidays. Lee on the Solent’s new facility opened for the first time on Saturday 20th July 2019 to much enthusiasm, on time and on budget as planned.

Our deliverables included the design and build of the splash park and playground, wind breaker fencing, bowtop fencing, anti-trap self-closing gates, seating, shade, surfacing and a new brick building to accommodate the PWTAG compliant recirculation system, three w/c’s, a services intake room, beach cleaning store and changing places facility. The tanks were installed above ground. Lee Splash Park and Playground is inclusive and accessible, offering play items for all ages and abilities. The picnic tables and row of benches provide plenty of seating for visitors.

Lee Splash Park is 100% inclusive and accessible because it is a splashpad concept featuring aquatic play favourites in a zero standing water environment. Activation is via a programmed sequence or an inclusive bollard or three jump on me actuators. There is a Fumbling Five constantly filling, spilling and thrilling with its five tipping buckets and two Tube No.1 cannons for aiming and firing fun. Each popular cannon has been placed at an opposite end of the pad to engage children to move from one to the other and to enhance the activity involved. The scheme features ten ground sprays in the knowledge that ground sprays appeal to all ages and abilities. There are two Geysers that reach for the sky with their vertical display and a beautiful Water Bloom No.1 that blossoms in height; taking on the appearance of a ballerina in pirouette, it is narrow at its base, growing wider in ascend via its layers of water streams. There are four Jet Stream No.2’s each providing a vertical ribbon of water and two Rooster Tails that present variety with their arched streams of water. There are two more products at Lee Splash Park, a Water Tunnel No.2 ground spray and a Rainbow No.1 adding a choice of run-through water play items to Lee on the Solent’s Splashpad® mix. The products in the adjacent playground were selected by Gosport Borough Council and listed in the tender documentation. Ustigate sourced, supplied and installed all wish list items as part of our scope of works. It is a wise selection because the basket swing and inclusive roundabout offers play for all ages and abilities. The spring rocker, see saw, swings and climbing frame are playground favourites too.

Ward councillor Graham Burgess, who pushed for the splash park to be built in the town, said: “It’s amazing – I’m thankful to the council leader for setting aside money in the capital programme for this. It’s great for Lee-on-the-Solent and it provides a great boost for the economy.”

For more information about Lee Splash Park and Playground, please visit:

https://www.gosport.gov.uk/leesplashpark