Vortex says the Blue Heron Bay Splashpad® at Independence Lake Park, in Whitmore, Michigan is the largest in North America. The splash park is divided into three areas: a toddler zone, a family area and an interactive zone featuring a 15-ft. ''spider'' sprayer.

The National Association of County Parks and Recreational Officials (NACPRO) has recognized the Blue Heron Bay Splashpad® at Independence Lake Park, in Whitmore, Michigan (Washtenaw County Parks & Recreation) with a Class 1 Park and Rec Award as the best in design, planning, construction and benefit to the community.

According to Vortex, whose Midwest facility supplied the Splashpad®, Blue Heron Bay is the largest such complex in North America at 20,000 square feet, featuring the greatest number of water elements. It took two years and cost $4 million dollars to complete, replacing a former splash park that had operated for about 12 summers, but was mechanically failing. The new spray park is more centrally located within the 414-acre park.

The splash park, located on the shores of Lake Independence, opened the Memorial Day weekend.

The splash park has a toddler zone with freestanding bubbling fountains and a turtle and frog that spit mouthfuls of water. The main feature of the sizeable family zone is the Elevation structure, highlighted by the Superwave, a tall spinning wheel that slowly fills with water before dumping it. The interactive zone is located at the opposite end of the park from the toddler's section. Here, a 15-ft. tall spider sprays water on command. The splash park also has a two-story water slide with two flumes: one that's enclosed and one that's open. This is attached to a 24-ft. tower and uses a run out, rather than a pool, to allow shorter riders and to let nonswimmers enjoy the slides.

The spark park using a water quality management system for water recirculation and UV treatment to kill bacteria.