This 5,465 sq. ft. splash park at the Woodlands Hotel in Colonial Williamsburg, Va., showcases 13 water features, including several custom designed water toys with a Colonial American theme. While easement issues limited the size and placement of the play site, Siska Aurand Landscape Architects developed several concepts, then a working design for contractors Michael Gracia and David Vigil to construct. The design is a nautical river adventure that culminates in reaching the ocean and the ship that awaits the explorers. The Colonial ship, the focus of the splash park, has dumping buckets atop the mast, a cannon to aim at British war ships or pirates, and sprayers throughout the walls of the ship. The No Fault Safety Surface blends four custom color mixes (dark blue, light blue, green and tan) to mimic the look of a river flowing across the area, ending at the "ocean'"?uthe kiddie pool basin.

Siska Aurand Landscape Architects aimed to make this splash park an enjoyable and cohesive establishment that met the Woodlands Hotel's expectations. The site was limited on size and placement due to several existing easement issues. After several concepts, Siska Aurand created a working design that fulfilled the criteria set before them and was easily understood by contractors Gracia & Vigil to construct.

Where the splashpad "river" meets the kiddie pool "ocean," there docked at the shore is a 19' x 9.5' sailing ship with an open side. Sitting in a shallow basin of water at the river's end, this large one-sided ship is the premier attraction of the new splash park. The ship is equipped with sprayers on its sides at the stern. To defend the ship from "attackers," it's equipped with another water cannon. Water collects in the furled up sails on the mast, periodically dumping 3-5 gallons on the ship's captain and crew.

The river begins with a ground geyser mimicking the bubbling of a natural spring flowing around a custom designed 10' tall wood grain Colonial Wagon Wheel Spinner, which constantly dumps 90 gallons of water per minute on its patrons. Continue down the river past two more springs and you'll find three wooden textured barrels sure to soak any nearby inhabitants. You can take aim with a cannon, enjoy the seemingly never ending bubbling water, or pretend that you've split a barrel wide open and found pirate treasure. If you weren't getting wet enough, the 14' long Spilling Canoe, which was custom-designed for the property, produces 90 gpm that falls off the edge and spills downriver. The canoe has become a lounging area for tired children.

From Just upriver from the Colonial ship there lies a 14' long Spilling Canoe, which was custom-designed by Siska Aurand and built for the property by Rain Drop. Water flows over the ledge at a rate of 90 gallons per minute. Some of the toddlers have even taken to lounging on it. The counterpart to this canoe is across the splashpad, a canoe waterslide banked on a rock that produces 30 gallons of water per minute.

Who doesn't love to run through tunnels of water? Standing a little over 6' tall, there are three Water O's, blue, green, and burgundy, producing about 15 gpm each through 10 nozzles spaced around the ring. They are wide enough for several young friends to run through together. After following the river through the tunnel, jump on a wrecked canoe and slide down. This is another piece custom designed to fit into the Colonial theme of the hotel. The slide leads to the largest water toy on the property.

 

At the start of the river, a wagon wheel spinner dumps 90 gpm on splash park patrons. Just beyond the spinner, past an area of two bubbling springs, three barrels provide three different play opportunities. One features a water cannon, capable of firing 3.7 gpm at attackers. Another has water bubbling out of the top like a natural spring. The third, split and on its side, has water shooting out of holes in the barrel, as if it has sprung a leak.

Sitting in a basin of water at the river's end and measuring 19'x9.5', this large one-sided ship is the premier attraction of the new splash park. The ship has sprayers on its sides as well as at its stern. The mast and sails above fill up with 3-5 gallons of water and dump down on the captain and crew periodically. To defend the ship from "attackers," it's equipped with another amiable cannon. The Splash Park has areas for drying off, and dry zones for those that wish to stay dry. Several large umbrellas provide ample shade. The surrounding areas are filled with wooded areas and trails, so there's something for the whole family.

Who wouldn't enjoy running the gauntlet of spray rings during Williamsburg's 80 degree humid summers? The three colorful rings"?uburgundy, green and blue"?ustand just over 6' tall. Water sprays through 10 nozzles spaced equidistant around the inner circumference at 15 gpm per circle. The "tunnel' is wide enough for several kids to run through together.

Team List

Owner Williamsburg Woodlands Hotel and Suites- Williamsburg, VA Owner Reps Lee Anderson and Neil Ellwein Architect/Design/Consultant Siska Aurand Landscape Architect, Inc. – Norfolk, VA Sr. Landscape Architect/Designer/Owner Doug Aurand Landscape Architects John Watson and Josh Mullet Cline CAD Technician Becky Bachmeier

Contractor Gracia & Vigil – The GraceHill Group Corp. – Virginia Beach, VA Owner Michael Gracia and David Vigil Surveyors AES Consulting Engineers – Williamsburg, VA Office Manager/Principal Howard Price Structural Stroud Pence and Associates – Virginia Beach, VA Vice President/Principal Earl Inge Jr., P.E.