Landscape Architect & Specifier News

MAR 2014

LASN is a photographically oriented, professional journal featuring topics of concern and state-of-the-art projects designed or influenced by registered Landscape Architects.

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26 Landscape Architect and Specifier News (Continued from page 24) p l a y g ro u n d Superlative Splashpad Blue Heron Bay at Independence Lake County Park in Michigan is the largest splash pad complex in North America, covering more than 20,000 square feet. It took two years and cost $4 million to complete, replacing a previous splash park that was struggling after 12 summers of operation. The new project involved building the spray space in a more centrally located area in the 414-acre park, improving access for visitors. The park implemented some of the most advanced technology in sustainable water usage, including the water distribution system, nozzles, spray sequences, flow controllers and intervals of usage. Top Right A sizable family zone features an Elevation structure highlighted by the Superwave, a tall spinning wheel that fills with water before dumping it on the children below. A toddler zone features free standing bubbling fountains, with a turtle and frog that spit large mouthfuls of water on younger children. Top Left At the opposite end of the park from the toddler's section, a 15-foot spider sprays webs of water when the Funflow Actuator is triggered. The splash park also has a two-story water slide with two flumes, one enclosed and one open, attached to a 24-foot tower that uses a run out, rather than a pool, to allow shorter riders and non-swimmers to enjoy the slides. Left Vortex says the Blue Heron Bay splashpad has the largest high-efficiency water recirculation system the company has ever built, and purports the UV water treatment kills more than 99 percent of harmful bacteria. The splashpad can accommodate about 420 people, and will operate from Memorial Day to Labor Day each year. 24-27.indd 26 2/27/14 9:03 AM

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