best splash pad surface

Make a SPLASH! Grant Contest 2021 Winner: Wells Park, Albuquerque, NM

In 2021, we co-hosted our second annual Make a SPLASH! Grant Contest with Inside Edge Safety Surfaces to award a municipality or non-profit organization in the United States with an all-expenses-paid splash pad surface. Our intent in initiating this contest was to be able to uplift communities across the country each year with beautiful splash pad surfacing designs that add increased safety for residents.

One of the applications we received stood out.

The Wells Park Splash Pad is located in front of the Johnny Tapia Community Center. This community center serves a large population of low-income households and provides a full day child development program in the heart of downtown Albuquerque. The Wells Park Splash pad has a relatively small footprint but serves as an oasis for families trying to beat the heat and cool off during those hot summer months. The community center heavily utilizes the splash pad to give children an unforgettable experience when those experiences are very rare for these children.

With a new Life Floor, we will be able to elevate the experience of all those who utilize the facility. We currently have a brushed concrete surface around the interactive play features. This surface can become somewhat slick over the years of heavy traffic and repeated cleaning throughout the seasons...Staff will arrive early in the morning and disinfect the splash pad surface to provide a sanitary environment for our users. With the Life Floor material, we can breathe a bit easier when we are cleaning each morning. Life Floor will also significantly reduce the amount of slip and fall injuries we see on a regular basis. Lastly, with the many diverse designs of the Life Floor, we will be able to provide a very unique feature to an underserved population.

Thank you for your consideration.
— Josh Herbert, Aquatics Division Manager, City of Albuquerque Parks and Recreation

BEFORE: Wells Park Splash Pad, concrete surfacing

AFTER: Wells Park Splash Pad, Life Floor

This entry resonated with members of the Life Floor and Inside Edge Safety Surfaces teams who reviewed entries and collaboratively chose this facility as the winner.

Our 2021 Grant Contest entrants chose from 6 unique pre-designed themes that would be custom fit to their project scope. The City of Albuquerque chose a vibrant 4-color banded pattern created from our square shaped tile featuring our Turquoise, Seafoam, Goldfish, and Sunshine colors. We included a custom-designed logo for the city as well.

The Make a SPLASH! Grant Contest’s co-host as well as Life Floor’s North American Preferred Installation Partner, Inside Edge Safety Surfaces, completed installation of the new surface in July of 2022. The crew worked with a high degree of professionalism and expertise to create a beautiful final result. Once they were finished, the splash pad was officially ready for the grand reopening celebration to commemorate the new surface.

We're excited to showcase a stunningly bright and cheerful Life Floor surface to uplift and transform the Wells Park Splash Pad in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Albuquerque takes great pride in the city's logo calling out the One Albuquerque motto and we are thrilled to be able to showcase that logo custom cut into the Life Floor surface. We can't wait to hear the stories of how this installation will continue to benefit the community for years to come!

We’re thankful for the opportunity to give this deserving community a new Life Floor splash pad surface and hope that it’s enjoyed for many seasons to come. Thank you to Inside Edge Safety Surfaces for co-hosting this contest with us and for installation.


Enter our Third Annual Make a SPLASH! Contest for 2022 by clicking the button below or visit our contest page for more information.

How Long Will Life Floor Last?

Children jumping into a pool.

With over 2,000 installations worldwide, Life Floor is trusted by leading brands and is the recommended surface for WhiteWater, Waterplay, and Rain Drop Products. Our tiles are made from a closed cell foam-rubber and we find that partners and customers are often curious about the general lifespan of our surfacing. While we offer a 5-year material warranty on our 3/8” thick tiles, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to durability. The following are a few factors to consider when assessing Life Floor for different environments.

TRAFFIC

Generally, after 10 million steps, our tiles will start to experience texture fading, reduced cushioning, and can potentially show small micro cracks from pool chemicals and UV exposure.

UV EXPOSURE

UV exposure is the greatest factor affecting durability. We’ve engineered our tiles to last in extreme UV climates like Miami for at least 5 years. If you fall into a climate zone with less UV exposure than climates closest to the equator, you can expect outdoor Life Floor installations to last between 7-10 years.

AVERAGE EXPECTATIONS

Indoor waterpark installations typically last 10-15 years. Outdoor splash pad installations typically last 7-10 years. Geographic location and volume of traffic often play a role in extending or shortening these expectations.

Light use, moderate use, and extreme use examples for Life Floor lifespan.
Custom designed splash pad with large bear paw print inlay.

WHAT ABOUT COLD CLIMATES?

Life Floor is engineered to flex with the freeze and thaw cycles of seasons.

The top of Life Floor tiles may expand and contract with high and low temperatures. In winter months, contraction creates wider joints. In summer months, expansion creates tighter joints. Rapid temperature changes and/or wide swings have negligible impact on tile performance after installation. Approved contact cement adhesives keep the base of the tile secured to the underlayment or substrate.

Pictured above is one of our oldest outdoor splash pad installations at Wilderness Resort in Wisconsin Dells. This splash pad has experienced TEN freeze-thaw cycles and is still performing great!

Custom designed splash pad with children running through spray features.

WHAT ABOUT COLOR LOSS?

We love design and we want every surface to look bold and bright for as long as possible. Colors generally fade in sunlight, but we’ve spent over a decade engineering our tiles to increase color longevity.

With our latest product innovations tailer to UV resistance, colors will stay vibrant through the warranty period when facilities follow proper water chemistry protocols and tile maintenance.

Want to learn about how our tiles are third-party tested for durability?
Read about how we meet the criteria for the NSF/ANSI/CAN 50 standard here.


GET STARTED ON YOUR PROJECT TODAY

With complementary design services and a dedicated team ready to answer any questions, we can’t wait to identify a solution for your surfacing needs. Contact us to get the ball rolling!

Is Concrete Surfacing the Right Choice for Splash Pads?

Using concrete as the surface for an aquatic play area is like building a house, putting down plywood and calling it a home. Sure, it functions, but it’s not going to be comfortable or add any design value. And that’s the reality of concrete. It functions fine as a foundation, but is that all we want out of surfacing?

Before: Concrete
After: Life Floor

Life Floor Activates the Entire Splash Pad

At Life Floor, we believe safety surfacing dramatically improves the user experience. It completes the immersive experience you’ve planned and budgeted for, combining safety, playfulness, and utility all in one. In fact, because of the way Life Floor performs with water, it’s actually an additional play feature that activates the entire splash pad.

Child standing on a custom Life Floor surfboard Inlay

The Surface is a Canvas for Play

Life Floor is a feature because it encourages different kinds of play. The entire splash zone is energized when Life Floor is the surface. Kids cartwheel, jump, somersault, crawl, and tumble their way through spray features. In other words, users play in more ways with Life Floor. By equipping the surface for play, designers can engage 90% more of the aquatic facility.

Child jumping over a spray jet on a splash pad.

Investing in Safety and Play Value

The added safety and play benefits of Life Floor are a worthwhile investment. Explore some of the ways we’ve transformed facilities and see what our customers have to say about Life Floor.

Historically, aquatic surfacing has been disastrous. Everything has failed. But with Life Floor, that’s all changed. You can now specify durable surfacing that doubles as a feature. Life Floor's performance and durability have been third-party tested through NSF, which is why we can confidently say we are the only aquatic safety surface that does exactly what it should do.

Want to learn about how our tiles are third-party tested for durability?
Read about how we met the criteria for NSF Standard 50:26 here.


HAVE A PROJECT THAT NEEDS LIFE FLOOR?

Contact us below and tell us about your project. Our Studio Team provides custom design concepts free of charge. We look forward to designing with you soon!

BEACHSIDE FUN AT MOREY’S PIERS

Morey’s Piers overlooks the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Wildwood, New Jersey and is perfectly located for guests who are looking for an elevated beach experience. Our partner, WhiteWater, designed these two oceanside attractions with over 10,000 square feet of Life Floor at Morey’s Piers’ Bonsai Beach and Camp KidTastrophe splash pads.

Bonsai Beach

Bonsai Beach features a beach inspired Life Floor design complete with Marine Inlays, custom surfboards and a custom logo. The outer edges of the splash pad replicate the sandy beaches just beyond the pier and the brilliant turquoise colors leading towards the center of the play area resemble crashing waves.

Bonsai Beach is a fully submerged splash pad located on Surfside Pier as part of Ocean Oasis Water Park.

Did you know Life Floor can be installed both above and below water?

Installing Life Floor on the bottom of fully submerged splash pads, pools, zero-depth entries, and waterparks is an easy way to add more visual interest to a space or signal to guests that the depth of water is changing by including gradients that get darker as the depth increases. Including visual signals for guests is an important aspect of accessible design.

Camp KidTastrophe

Camp KidTastrophe showcases a unique pattern centered around the main elevated play structure. Marine Inlays complement the space and add play value as kids run and splash around the structures. This energetic splash pad is located on Mariner’s Pier as part of Raging Waters Water Park.

Life Floor requires way less annual maintenance than other surfaces we’ve had in the past. We would definitely recommend Life Floor to other facilities.
— Will Morey, Director of Waterpark Operations

Thank you to WhiteWater for the collaboration on this project and to Inside Edge Safety Surfaces for installation services. If you want to learn more about Life Floor, contact us today.

LIFE FLOOR NAMED 2022 DREAM DESIGN SUPPLIER

We're honored to be named as the Floor Covering Supplier by Aquatics International for two Dream Design Award-winning waterparks in 2022! At Baha Bay at Baha Mar and Atlantis Dubai Aquaventure, our brightly colored tiles activate these play areas and create immersive, fun environments for all guests. Congratulations to these waterparks and to all of our partners who collaborated to bring them to life!

2022 DREAM DESIGNS

Baha Bay at Baha Mar

Nassau, Bahamas

Life Floor is featured on Kid’s Island at Turtle Beach and Stingray Cove. In both areas, custom cut waves of our Aviator and Aqua tiles brighten up the surfacing at this waterpark. At Stingray Cove, Life Floor Landing Pads blend seamlessly with the surfacing design and offer enhanced cushioning at slide run-outs.

Atlantis Aquaventure Waterpark

Dubai, UAE

Life Floor surfaces multiple areas of Splasher’s Island including the newest Splasher’s Cove. In the two kids areas, triangle gradients create vibrant beach and island effects. Life Floor sea creature Inlays add theming and play value to complement the overall design.

We celebrate these awards with all of the fellow teams who worked to make these projects a reality. A special congratulations to our partners WhiteWater and Waterplay for also being named 2022 Dream Design Suppliers!


Beyond the winners above, Life Floor contributed to the following projects awarded Dream Design designations by Aquatics International in previous years.

2021 DREAM DESIGNS

The St. James of Springfield, VA

Springfield, Virginia, USA

Life Floor’s blue surfacing creates a colorful backdrop in the play structure area of the facility.

2020 DREAM DESIGNS

Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day at CocoCay

Little Stirrup, Bahamas

Bold, custom graphics energize Splashaway Bay while a beach design completes the theming at Captain Jill’s Galleon.

Lopesan Costa Bavaro Resort

Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

Cushioned and slip-resistant tiles brighten up the splash pad at Splash Island Waterpark.


We love working with all of our customers around the world and partnering with other companies to create stunning aquatic facility designs. For more information about these projects or to learn how you can purchase our award-winning surfacing for your facility, contact us today.

New Inlay Themes to Celebrate Summer

We’re excited to announce three new sets of Inlays that can be used to enhance the design, theming, and imaginative play opportunities on any splash pad or pool deck. These new additions complement our growing library of options that have helped to reimagine the potential of aquatic play through surfacing design. Check out our new additions below!

SEA LIFE

As an expansion of our Marine collection of Inlays, we can’t wait to see these new Sea Life Inlays sprinkled across designs that emulate underwater landscapes. We expect these to join our other sea creatures as some of our most popular thematic additions.

OUTDOOR EXPLORATION

Inspired by summer camping, we’ve created this set of Outdoor Exploration Inlays to complement our Forest Inlays. These designs will help to create unique, woodland themed splash pads that inspire adventure!

GEOMETRIC

We’ve already seen the limitless design possibilities when it comes to our different tile shapes so we wanted to expand those options to our Inlays. These shapes are sure to inspire countless numbers of new patterns and graphic elements. The vibrant design below gives just a glimpse at their potential!


The addition of these new Inlays to our library is just the continuation of a year-long expansion of theming options we’re making available to customers and designers. If you’re interested in including one or more of these new Inlays in your upcoming project, please contact your regional sales manager. For projects outside of the U.S., please contact our international team.

New Inlay Themes for Spring

We’re excited to announce the latest expansion of our Life Floor Inlay library. These three new sets of Inlays can be easily integrated into any design to add increased play value, theming, and visual interest. Keep an eye out for even more Inlay releases throughout the year!

AUSTRALIA + NEW ZEALAND

Transport guests down under with these new wildlife Inlays! This Australia & New Zealand themed set is inspired by Life Floor Australia and New Zealand and the magnificent projects that have been installed there. A few of our favorites include Wet’n’Wild Gold Coast, the Doone Kennedy Hobart Aquatic Center, and Australia Zoo.

TROPICAL

Design a vibrant jungle landscape with these colorful Tropical Inlays or complement the existing scenery with the Hibiscus and Monstera accents. This set pairs nicely with our Rainforest, Wildflower, or Oasis Themes.

GARDEN

Create some fun outdoor theming with this Garden Inlay set. Count all the Ladybugs as an impromptu scavenger hunt or follow the Bees to their hive! This set pairs well with our Wilderness or Rainforest Themes. The Bee Inlay is sized to fit within one of our Hexagon Tile Shapes which makes it well-suited for a honeycomb-themed environment.

Design Tips

Use Rocks Inlays in a repeating pattern to mimic a stone pathway for added play value and theming.

Combine our new Bee Inlays with our hexagon tiles to create a buzzing hive!

 

The addition of these new Inlays to our library is just the continuation of a year-long expansion of theming options we’re making available to customers and designers. If you’re interested in including one or more of these new Inlays in your upcoming project, please contact your regional sales manager. For projects outside of the U.S., please contact our international team.

ALL ABOARD! CRUISES FILLED WITH AQUATIC FUN

Guest experience is essential aboard any cruise ship to ensure a fun and unique vacation for passengers. Among the numerous amenities available, water features have become increasingly popular attractions. Flowriders by WhiteWater Industries, waterslides, splash pads, and beautiful pools have become staples for many vessels. As a result, patrons have come to expect bigger and brighter aquatic experiences as new vessels are built. 

LARGE AQUATIC PLAY STRUCTURES

Elevated structures such as multi-level interactive water play structures or waterslide towers create an immediate presence that cruisers are often amazed by. These types of amenities serve as a focal point for the ship as a whole and create lasting memories.

Carnival Cruise Lines

Surf machines such as Flowrider by WhiteWater Industries are compact attractions, but they have a large onboard impact. For many guests, exposure to surf machines like these might happen for the first time on a cruise. Some ships have chosen to reinforce branding alongside the surrounding walkways and reduce risk with Life Floor’s custom logos and safety surfacing benefits.

POOL DECKS

Pool decks are popular amenities on cruise ships. Having a comfortable pool deck where guests feel at ease improves guest experience at these amenity types. Because these features are central to recreation on the upper decks of ships, vibrant designs that match the ship’s theming have become increasingly popular.

Cruise Ship Pool Deck

Beyond the focus on great looking pool decks, it’s essential that these areas are designed with safety and cleanability in mind. Certain elements can provide visual signals to guests regarding critical elements such as a pool edge, step down, or depth of water. Slip resistance can help maintain guests’ footing in these wet areas especially when paired with motion at sea. Surfaces that resist the growth of harmful bacteria help to protect the health of guests, especially since ships are heavily occupied with little downtime between voyages. 

By keeping these elements in mind, the upper decks of cruise ships provide the ultimate zones for aquatic relaxation and fun for their guests as they voyage across the seas. 

SPLASH PADS

Splash pads have become a popular amenity onboard cruise ships for families with young children or guests looking for aquatic play outside a pool setting.

Splash pads provide a variety of play options from dump buckets to water spray features. Generally, free play is more widely available on splash pads due to play requiring a level of imagination and creativity. Encouraging free play by having a highly themed splash pad can help guests who may not know one another play with a similar theme in mind. For example, a pirate themed splash pad can lend a story arc option to guests and create memories that may not have otherwise happened. 

Including all aspects of a splash pad’s construction in theming allows for greater customization and control of the greater cruise experience. From water jets to surfacing, utilizing all the aspects of splash pad design can curate experiences for guests.

#choosefun Carnival Cruise

Image Credit: eatsleepcruise.com

KIDS’ PLAY AREAS

Kids’ play areas are perfect for onboard daycares and family zones. Both indoor and outdoor dry play areas on cruise ships often feature various playground equipment that require a fall attenuating, cushioned surface to protect against accidental falls when equipment is elevated. An IMO-certified surface like Life Floor has been popular in these applications. 

Fun, vibrant flooring designs can help brighten up a play area by incorporating colors and themes that complement the rest of the space. Inlaid designs can provide another layer of play engagement with surface games or scavenger hunts. Life Floor’s custom cutting capabilities can also reinforce branding with cruise line logos or iconography. 

See our standard Inlay Library here.

PRIVATE ISLANDS

Beyond all of the fun on board, cruise lines that stop at their own private islands allow for all-inclusive theming in a secluded locale. Building an island environment is incredibly complex and requires a wide scope of considerations which centers around guest experience and enjoyment. Aquatic amenities are often the main features on private islands as guests seek to cool off and enjoy warm weather.

Life Floor is featured at two splash pads that can be enjoyed whenever passengers spend a Perfect Day® at CocoCay® courtesy of Royal Caribbean. Guests can cool off, run and play, or relax on the sidelines at both Splashaway Bay designed by Martin Aquatic Design & Engineering or at Captain Jill’s Galleon designed by the Life Floor Studio. These two projects at CocoCay are quintessential examples of Life Floor’s ability to match any aquatic feature’s theming and support risk reduction. 

The graphic elements of these two installations extend the scope of theming to provide immersive engagement for guests.  At Splashaway Bay, the designs on the slide tower panels were integrated into the surface design. Similarly, Captain Jill’s Galleon features a massive vessel with the surfacing surrounding it designed to mimic a body of water. 

Guest experience at an island vista requires comprehensive planning and safety parameters to ensure a low-risk environment while providing ample options for adrenaline-pumping adventures mixed with relaxing opportunities. To minimize interruptions to play, reducing overall risk is critical. One way to reduce risk in aquatic features specifically is to invest in safety surfacing that has increased slip-resistance and cushioning to better protect guests. 


Life Floor’s IMO Certified safety surfacing is both lightweight and durable for all types of wet or dry amenities.

We have so much fun working on these projects and serving the unique needs of our cruise partners such as Royal Caribbean, Carnival Cruise Lines, MSC, and Norwegian Cruise Lines among others. To specify Life Floor for your cruise ship, please contact Lindsay Fetzer here.

Unique Aquatic Designs at Vacation Destinations Worldwide

Some of our favorite projects include installations at sunny vacation destinations around the world. These locations chose Life Floor surfacing to add theming and design to their aquatic facilities and play areas with the added benefits of cushioning and slip-resistance that comes with our flooring. 

To give a sampling of some of the top projects on our travel bucket lists, we've compiled a list below. Many of these featured splash pads and pool decks are customized to look like seascapes, while others feature vibrant graphic elements. We've loved partnering with each of these resorts and travel destinations as we continue to provide a fun aquatic design solution to customers worldwide.

DUBAI

Jungle Bay Waterpark

“Inspired by the islands of Greece, the waterpark was designed intentionally with a clean, minimalist style. The park features rides and attractions for all ages… all surfaced with Life Floor for the whole family.” - WhiteWater Industries

Jungle Bay Waterpark is accessible through both The Westin Dubai and Le Méridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort in Dubai, UAE.

VISIT THE PORTFOLIO PAGE

Atlantis The Palm Dubai

As one of the world’s leading resorts, Atlantis The Palm Dubai boasts a complete resort experience. The submerged splash pad at Aquaventure Waterpark, which features a beach theme, was created for maximum entertainment and superior guest experience complete with Life Floor safety surfacing. 

VISIT THE PORTFOLIO PAGE

The Beach Jumeirah

Located between the panoramic backdrop of the Dubai skyline and the turquoise waters of the Persian Gulf, The Beach splash pad delights families residing in the luxurious Jumeriah residential area.

VISIT THE PORTFOLIO PAGE


CARIBBEAN

Perfect Day at CocoCay

Cruisers of Royal Caribbean can truly have a Perfect Day at CocoCay. There’s something for everyone with numerous water play features to choose from and enjoy. From the Tallest Waterslide in North America to the largest freshwater pool in the Bahamas, this experience is a fun-filled getaway for the whole family. Life Floor is featured at two splash pads on the island with colorful surfacing that brightens up both Splashaway Bay and Captain Jill's Galleon.

VISIT THE PORTFOLIO PAGE

Lopesan’s Costa Bavaro Resort

Splash Island Waterpark is a picturesque family vacation destination in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic located at Lopesan’s Costa Bavaro Resort. This 27-acre themed resort pairs luxury with fun and has zoned areas for even the youngest guests.

VISIT THE PORTFOLIO PAGE

Jungala Aqua Experience

Jungala Aqua Experience is internationally known as a leader in guest experience. By placing capacity limits on accommodations, this luxury resort is able to provide guests with an experience that truly feels unique. This location features a RainFortress 5 structure by WhiteWater Industries paired with vibrant Life Floor surfacing to create an action-packed aquatic play environment.

VISIT THE PORTFOLIO PAGE


AUSTRALIA

Australia Zoo

Australia Zoo created a beautiful splash pad at the center of their Laughing Lolly Shop and Water Park - a place where kids can play and cool off in the blazing Queensland sun while exploring beautiful sculptures of Australian animals, designed by the Zoo’s artist team. True to their environmental mission, they use water recycling components to reduce waste and give back to the wild.

VISIT THE PORTFOLIO PAGE

Sugarworld Adventure Park

As a central place for the community to connect and for local kids to cool off in the Queensland heat, the park features a 7,000 square foot play pool, complete with a play structure. Located near the site of an old sugar mill, this council-owned waterpark is the centerpiece of the community of Edmonton outside Cairns, Australia.

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ULTIQA Beach Haven Resort

“ULTIQA Beach Haven on Broadbeach is the perfect Gold Coast getaway. Views of the Pacific Ocean, Gold Coast Coastline and Hinterland views combine with relaxed apartments, creating a family friendly coastal destination.”

- ULTIQA Beach Haven on Broadbeach 

The unique wave patterning on this resort's pool deck can be seen from rooms above and adds comfortable surfacing for all guests who use this amenity.

VISIT THE PORTFOLIO PAGE


United States

LEGOLAND Surfer’s Cove

Surfer’s Cove is inspired by the beaches of Southern California and features its own surrounding artificial beach. It is a unique, enclosed area of LEGOLAND California, perfect for parents to relax within sight of their children playing on the splash pad.

VISIT THE PORTFOLIO PAGE

Courtyard Anaheim Theme Park Entrance

Excited travelers looking to experience the best of Southern California look to the Anaheim Courtyard by Marriott. This hotel is located near Disneyland and other popular attractions. In addition to spacious accommodations, the hotel is proud to offer guests access to the 20,000 sq ft Surfside Waterpark. Many rooms overlook this central attraction that features theming that carries through from the WhiteWater AquaPlay structure to the Life Floor surfacing.

VISIT THE PORTFOLIO PAGE

Dolphin Bay Resort

Framed by the Pacific Ocean and tropical palm trees, Dolphin Bay Resort is ideal for a California beach getaway. Guests are welcome to lounge in the sun on the resort's pool deck while listening to the waves crash against the shoreline a short walk away from the resort.  

VISIT THE PORTFOLIO PAGE

Fun Spot America, Orlando

Fun Spot Orlando is a vibrant family-owned theme park with a beautiful splash pad located in the heart of Orlando, FL. Fun Spot decided to expand on their mission of “Safe-Clean-Fun” and showcase their logo on a larger-than-life scale on the park’s splash pad where guests can cool off after a full day of fun.

VISIT THE PORTFOLIO PAGE


While this list features just some of our favorite vacation destinations around the world, there are countless others. To view more of our projects, head to our Portfolio page

If you'd like to see how Life Floor surfacing could enhance a resort or attraction you have in mind, contact us to start the design process!

CREATING UNIQUE AQUATIC EXPERIENCES AT CAMPGROUNDS AND RV PARKS

Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Camp-Resort, North Java, NY

Campgrounds and RV parks that provide access to aquatic amenities such as splash pads, waterparks, or lake shores are popular with campers. These amenities provide a simple, yet fun way for families to relax and enjoy the excitement of camping, while also cooling off in the warm summer heat.

At some camp resort locations such as Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Parks, theming is an important aspect for each location. It allows for branded merchandise, lovable characters, and a complete experience that makes guests feel more welcome and connected.

Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Camp-Resort, Natural Bridge, VA

Theming can be accomplished in a variety of ways including literature, signage, merchandise, and the physical appearance of buildings or amenities. Log cabins, tents, and picnic baskets are strong camping associations for many people, so including interactive elements that foster memorable play can improve overall engagement. 

One way that themes can be incorporated into a park design is through aquatic surfacing design. Varying design iterations on the same surface can signal different play zones while also carrying a theme throughout the park and creating a unique experience. 

Safety surfacing on splash pads and around pool decks can also add to the amount of fun that families have at these facilities by providing cushioning and slip-resistance for greater comfort and more active play. 

As travel picks up again, there has also been an increasing trend for RV travel and guest stays at campgrounds that allow RVs. This type of travel allows for greater flexibility, more options, outdoor family adventures, and tends to be generally less expensive than other methods of vacationing. Aquatic amenities add to this experience and are a welcome benefit wherever they’re featured. 


To get Life Floor quoted for your campground or RV park, please complete our contact form here. We’d be happy to provide you with budget numbers and some complimentary design options.

Life Floor is Now the Recommended Surface of Waterplay

Minneapolis, Minn., March 2, 2022

Life Floor, an innovative aquatic safety surfacing manufacturer, and Waterplay, the industry’s leading aquatic play manufacturer, today announce a strategic partnership to bring aquatic surfacing to the global splash pad market. Together, the companies are committed to making aquatic recreation completely immersive and connecting the world through play and social experiences. 

We’re thrilled to bring Life Floor to our customers. It just makes sense for our companies to team up and create a playful experience together. Life Floor is really stunning in the aquatic space and a perfect complement to our products and, of course, for customers looking for strong theming. It’s also very fun in that kids play differently on a Life Floor aquatic surface, they’re able to crawl and roll without restriction, or make a game of jumping from tile to tile. With NSF certification, our partners and customers can trust they are investing in a surface that is both durable and safe.”
— Kerrin Smith, Waterplay Vice President

Waterplay’s commitment to bringing play and social experience to communities around the planet is evident in their inclusive designs, range of splash features, and global reach. The company is passionate about making play accessible for every ability with thousands of installations and a 35-year track record of happy customers. 

We really couldn’t be happier to partner with Waterplay. They’re a leading manufacturer in splash pad design with a team who is incredibly passionate about play. Offering our products together brings the best of both worlds together for aquatic users—unique, imaginative play solutions paired with beautiful, safe surfacing.”
— Gwen Ruehle, Life Floor Vice President, Business Development

The Waterplay and Life Floor partnership includes the global splash pad market. Exclusivity will be given to Waterplay for all projects specified solely with Waterplay equipment and Life Floor products. Life Floor is committed to providing the best aquatic surfacing for all spray park end customers and will continue working directly with customers who choose alternative equipment providers. Life Floor will also continue working directly with spray feature manufacturers and their Registered Aquatic Partners where Waterplay and Life Floor are not exclusively specified.


Life Floor manufactures Life Floor tiles, a foam-rubber flooring system designed for use in wet areas with barefoot traffic. Created as an alternative to concrete and other conventional materials, Life Floor is the only safety surface specifically designed and engineered to perform in aquatic environments. Life Floor combines award-winning safety with unparalleled design capabilities, delivered by an expert team committed to a world-class experience for everyone who interacts with our products. To learn more, visit lifefloor.com.

Gwen Ruehle | Vice President, Business Development
+1.612.269.7919 | gwen.ruehle@lifefloor.com
lifefloor.com

Waterplay designs and manufactures play solutions for indoor and outdoor aquatic play spaces. Freestanding play features, playable fountains, elevated structures and water management solutions—we specialize in inclusive, high value, quality products that last. With aquatic play, water management, seating, shade, surfacing and toilet facility solutions, there’s no aquatic play project we can’t handle. Contact us today to start working with our experienced support teams positioned to help you every step of the way. building a splash pad is easy with Waterplay. Visit waterplay.com to learn more.

Shanley Hutchinson | Group Marketing Manager
+1.250.712.3393 | marketing@waterplay.com
waterplay.com

NEW INLAY THEMES FOR 2022

We’re excited to announce an expansion of our Life Floor Inlay library. These three new sets of shapes can be easily integrated into any design to add increased play value, theming, and visual interest. Keep an eye out for even more Inlay releases throughout the year!

FOREST

Squirrel

Paw Prints

Bear

Oak Leaf

Fox

 

Maple Leaf

Bird

Bear Print

Acorn

Tree Stump

 

Walk your guests through the woods as they follow paw prints and spot forest animals such as birds, squirrels, and foxes with our Forest Inlays. These Inlays pair perfectly with our Wilderness and Rainforest Themes.

TREASURE HUNT

Pirate Ship

Horizontal Dash

Anchor

X

Ship’s Wheel

 

Spyglass

Treasure Chest

Diagonal Dash

Hook

Jolly Roger Flag

 

X Marks the Spot! Take your youngest guests on a pirate adventure. These Treasure Hunt Inlays pair with our Seashore Theme to create an immersive adventure experience. Whether guests are following the dotted line to the treasure chest or imagining hopping from ship to ship across the high seas, this Inlay set will enhance play value at aquatic or beach themed facilities.

POND

Butterfly

Duck

Grass Tuft

Duckling

Lizard

 

Frog

Lily Pad

Dragonfly

Turtle

Waterlily

 

Bug hunters and frog catchers will love these Pond-inspired shapes. Hop across lily pads and imagine you’ve shrunk to the size of one of our turtle Inlays as your guests explore! These Pond themed Inlays pair well with our green, blue, and tan colors


The addition of these new shapes to our library is just the start of a year-long expansion of theming options we’re making available to customers and designers. If you’re interested in including one or more of these new Inlays in your upcoming project, please contact your regional sales manager. For projects outside of the U.S., please contact our international team.

HOW TO SPECIFY CUSTOM LIFE FLOOR DESIGN PROJECTS

The versatility of Life Floor’s design options provides an opportunity to create truly iconic aquatic spaces. While some clients opt for simpler designs using our preconfigured Patterns, many Life Floor projects are custom. Our team has spent over a decade building a process to accommodate these unique installations and we recommend initiating project-specific discussions as early as possible.

GETTING STARTED ON UNIQUE DESIGNS

Some clients and design partners create their own designs entirely in-house while others utilize our Studio Team’s complimentary design services. To visualize possibilities for specific projects, our team generates 2-3 concepts after receiving scaled plans and general design guidelines. Our team can also facilitate a hybrid approach to optimize pre-existing designs using our established best practices. For custom projects, contact us as soon as possible to streamline the design and quote processes.

OPTING FOR PRE-ESTABLISHED THEMES + PATTERNS

For rough budgetary estimates on non-custom projects, we recommend contacting us for a copy of the Life Floor Budgetary Guide, which features pricing for our Themes and Patterns. These designs have been curated to represent the most popular color and shape combinations requested by customers and designers.

TYPICAL PROJECT TIMELINE

It takes around 12 weeks from the start of the design process to the shipment of tiles from our U.S. manufacturing facility. While times vary by project, the following phases can be referenced for planning estimates:

Design Phase

2 weeks after scaled site plans are received by our Studio Team

Material + Labor Quote

1-2 weeks following design approval

Manufacturing Production

6-8 weeks following quote approval

CONTACT US

To initiate a new project or to discuss an existing project where Life Floor has been specified, please contact us. For additional design resources, please visit the Studio Section of our website.

BEHIND THE SCENES INSTALLATION AT NORTH POINT TRAILS COMMUNITY

The North Point Trails Community in Winkler, Manitoba, Canada was established in 2020 through Triple E Developments. Within this community, North Point Park hosts a beautiful playground as well as a splash pad featuring Life Floor safety surfacing in vibrant colors. When choosing a flooring option for the aquatic feature, safety was a priority for the city and the upcoming community. 

Installation of this splash pad was completed by Prairie Surfaces in October 2020 and overseen by our Installation Specialist, Matt Thelen. Their team battled fierce weather conditions including strong, steady winds and rain clouds threatening overhead for days.

BEHIND THE SCENES INSTALLATION AT NORTH POINT TRAILS COMMUNITY

Thelen recounts the experience, “[We] pretty much have to have someone beside you holding one tile at a time so it doesn’t blow away. All gluing done in the trailers. [We] parked a semi trailer onsite to help block the wind. The boxes move with us to create a dust/wind barrier as well.”

BEHIND THE SCENES INSTALLATION AT NORTH POINT TRAILS COMMUNITY

Despite these environmental challenges, the Prairie Surfaces team installed this beautiful splash pad with top professionalism and care for detail.

[Life Floor] provides parents peace of mind knowing their children can play safely on the surface.
— Angela Elias, Executive Assistant, Triple E Developments
“It’s easy to move around, it looks great. There’s a washroom building tied in, so you can get changed right at the park. Nearby there’s a gazebo, and a play structure, so it’s just overall a great green space.
— Jordan Driedger, Winkler's Director of Community Services

This splash pad in Winkler, MB is one of the first facilities in Canada to have a certified splash pad safety surface. The NSF/ANSI/CAN 50:26 standard, which sets forth product requirements for aquatic recreation safety surfacing, was recently expanded to include Canadian territories.  Manitoba’s code does not currently reference NSF 50 Standards, but neighboring territory Saskatchewan has a comprehensive reference within the territory’s code for aquatic facilities. 

Thank you to our partners in Canada, Polyvalens and Prairie Surfaces, for collaborating with us on this project, to Playquest Recreation for recommending us for this project, and to Triple E Developments for including us on this project. 

Do you have a project in mind located in Canada? Connect with Paul-Émile at Polyvalens to receive more information and receive a quote today.

A Brighter, Safer Pool Deck in New Ulm, MN

New Ulm Family Recreation Center in New Ulm, Minnesota

The New Ulm Family Recreation Center in New Ulm, Minnesota features a budget-friendly three-color Life Floor design with a unique visual approach. Bands of 5 to 9 full-sized square tiles create a striped gradient effect across this indoor pool deck. This design creates a subtle play opportunity for children following along paths or hopping from one color to the next while also retaining a modern, geometric feel for adult guests.

New Ulm Family Recreation Center in New Ulm, Minnesota

As individuals enter the pool area, they have many options to choose from for engagement. 

A prominent dual water slide exits into the pool connected to the  zero depth entry where a rainbow fish slide faces one of the entrances to the pool. This zero depth entry has several small spray jets and a water umbrella where toddlers and babies can play with their parents or guardians. 

New Ulm Family Recreation Center in New Ulm, Minnesota

In the neighboring pool, lap swim can be quickly converted into a unique NinjaCross feature that lowers into the water where guests can navigate through obstacles. In one corner of the pool, a rock climbing wall extends out of the water for guests to use. A hot tub is nestled into another corner of the room for guests to relax and watch the activities in the main pool.

NinjaCross with Life Floor
 
We love the new look of this! It feels so much better than the old stuff.
— Anonymous Guest Comment
New Ulm Family Recreation Center in New Ulm, Minnesota

Guests can interact with these features while feeling the safety of Life Floor’s NSF/ANSI/CAN 50 certified surfacing underfoot. With added slip resistance and cushioning around the pool, guests of all ages can engage more safely and enjoy the experience more freely.

New Ulm Family Recreation Center in New Ulm, Minnesota

Thank you to the City of New Ulm, Minnesota for choosing Life Floor and to Inside Edge Safety Surfaces for installing this vibrant indoor pool deck. 

Are you wondering how you can also create a unique budget-friendly design for your facility? Contact our sales team today to have all your questions answered.

SPLASH PADS ARE PLAYGROUNDS TOO

Playgrounds and splash pads are designed with very similar intentions in mind. Both provide play features and open spaces that encourage imaginative exploration, running, and risky play opportunities. Playgrounds feature spring riders, slides, and play panels whereas splash pads feature spray jets, dump buckets, and water slides. However, where playgrounds require safety surfacing, splash pads are still being commonly surfaced with unforgiving concrete, tile, or stone. If splash pads are essentially wet playgrounds (leaving visitors more prone to accident and injury), how are hard and slick surfacing options still permitted?

SPLASH PADS ARE PLAYGROUNDS TOO

WHY DON’T WE OFTEN SEE SAFETY SURFACING AT SPLASH PADS IF THEY’RE PLAYGROUNDS TOO? 

Our industry has become so accustomed to seeing concrete and failing substrates that it has ignored the problem at splash pads. Many people believe that concrete isn’t an issue at all and that it’s perfectly safe for aquatic play areas. They are likely similar to the people who said concrete was perfectly safe for dry playgrounds too. It took 78 years from the time dry playgrounds were first introduced in 1903 for the Consumer Product Safety Commission to publish the Handbook for Public Playground Safety in 1981. 

78 years of avoidable injuries.

Let’s not make that same mistake with splash pads. 

WHY DON’T WE OFTEN SEE SAFETY SURFACING AT SPLASH PADS IF THEY’RE PLAYGROUNDS TOO? 

A SPLASH PAD SAFETY SURFACING STANDARD DOES EXIST

In 2019, after four years of research, testing, and careful deliberation, NSF International passed NSF/ANSI/CAN Standard 50:26. Recognizing that splash pads function as wet playgrounds, this is the first standard to address the safety of surfaces at interactive water play venues. 

The standard cites 6 criteria that products must meet to become certified:

Slip Resistance

Slip-and-fall accidents are one of the top injuries that aquatic facilities report. Most injuries are due to slippery surfacing such as concrete or ceramic tile. Slip-resistance was included in the standard as a feature that certified surfaces should have in order to reduce the number of injuries as a direct result. Certified surfaces are slip-resistant to minimize slip-and-fall injuries. Meeting the criteria requires a 40 British Pendulum Number (BPN) and a P4 on the Australian Standard. Life Floor exceeds this criteria with a 65 BPN and P5 rating.

Impact Absorption

It’s inevitable that falls will happen regardless of slip-resistance since tripping or becoming unbalanced and falling also happens. To address this, impact absorption (also known as cushioning), was added to the standard to protect falls. The standard requires a Head Injury Criterion (HIC) maximum value of 750, with a 0.20 meter (0.66 ft) minimum fall height. Life Floor is certified to this standard with a 74 HIC which means our standard ⅜” tile recommended for splash pads and pool decks has a 1 ft critical fall height. Most raw eggs won’t break when dropped from waist height. 

Impermeability

Impermeability is important so that foreign substances such as sunscreen, fertilizer run-off, and other hazardous substances do not absorb into the tile and cause issues. Life Floor is certified to this criteria with 99.7% Impermeability which contributes to the product’s easy to maintain and cleanable features. The joints between tiles were included in testing and received the same ratings.

Cleanability

Having an easily cleanable surface is important for many facilities since it directly impacts guest experience. Life Floor is made from a closed-cell foam, which means it does not harbor bacteria or support microbial growth. During testing, our tiles showed a 99.9% reduction of bacteria after being sanitized, including the joints of tiles.

UV Resistance

Resistance to UV radiation is essential, as many splash pads experience intense, year-long sun exposure.  During testing, erosion is not acceptable if it compromises the surface’s traction and impact attenuation. Life Floor is certified to this standard. 

Chemical Resistance

As part of the standard, certified surfaces must remain slip-resistant and impact attenuating properties after undergoing exposure to high chemical shock periods without showing signs of erosion. Unlike ceramic or painted depth markers, our tiles retain color contrast and visual clarity after both UV and chemical exposure which is important for safety messaging and depth markers.   

NSF/ANSI/CAN 50 Certified Aquatic Safety Surface
NSF/ANSI/CAN 50 Certified Aquatic Safety Surface

Complying to NSF/ANSI/CAN 50:26 is a best practice that can be followed at facilities in order to reduce risk, improve guest experience, and benefit communities. Since certified products are third party tested through the internationally recognized standard, specifiers and operators have peace of mind knowing that these options are reputable and validated through multiple accredited sources. Even though the standard isn’t a code requirement, it has the potential to influence codes and is recognized as a standard for operational excellence.

NSF/ANSI/CAN 50 Certified Aquatic Safety Surface

We’ve created a free resource for facilities in the U.S. and Canada to help understand what different states and territories mention in their official codes. If you’d like to learn more about how Life Floor is certified to this standard, download our guide here.

To purchase the standard for your office’s or city’s use, visit the official NSF International website here.


Humans Were Not Designed to Play on Concrete

Humankind has created innumerable advances in technology, science, and architecture. One of the architectural cornerstones that dates back to over 5,000 years is concrete. It has been used as support for buildings, aqueducts, sewers, streets, and bridges. These engineering feats credit how strong and durable concrete can be. However, the fact remains: concrete is unforgiving, hard, and abrasive. 

Humans were meant to thrive on soft surfaces such as grass and dirt. Sure, there are examples of humans living in caves and rocky areas, but their living spaces were covered in furs and pelts to create a softer environment. Even in today’s modern world, people gravitate towards tactile, soft finishes or materials with some amount of give. It's why we put area rugs over hardwood floors.

Free play is heightened living; faster, rougher, wilder. There is less planning and less caution, so softer surfaces protect play from getting too fast, too rough, and too wild. Playgrounds are a good example of this. Years ago, playgrounds were surfaced with that unforgiving, hard, abrasive concrete until people realized there was a better alternative that allowed for play as it was meant to happen. They realized humans weren’t designed to play on concrete.

Humans Were Not Designed to Play on Concrete

Can you imagine if preschools, daycares, living rooms, indoor basketball courts, and soccer fields were covered in concrete instead? Not only would it be uncomfortable, but there would be exponentially more scraped knees, broken bones, shin splints, bruises, and concussions.

Soft Carpeted Daycare
Slip Resistant and Cushioned Soccer Turf
Soft Sand Beach
Impact Absorbing Basketball Court

There are practical examples where you can’t solve every issue with an area rug. Tile and impermeable surfaces make sense in bathrooms, locker rooms, and around pools for hygienic purposes. Many softer solutions, often made for dry play, have been tried in these areas only to degrade over time or harbor growth of bacteria and mold. Thankfully hygienic aquatic safety surfacing has been introduced and adopted by the industry over the last decade. With the innovation of this type of safety surfacing, these areas can be cushioned with a product that offers the same impermeability as traditionally harder surfaces.  

Before: Unsafe Concrete

Before: Concrete

After: Life Floor

After: Life Floor

Life Floor fills the need for more human-friendly materials in aquatics with the material properties required for the specific needs of these environments. Soft and impermeable. Textured for slip-resistance, but not abrasive. Third party tested by NSF International

Want to feel the difference of a Life Floor tile? Order a sample today

Safety Drives Fun at Handy Park Splash Pad

Handy Park Splash Pad, Redford Township, Michigan

In 2020, we co-hosted our first ever Make a SPLASH! Contest with Inside Edge Safety Surfaces to award grants to municipalities in the U.S. for upgrading their splash pad surfaces. We initiated this contest to be able to uplift communities across the country with beautiful splash pad surfacing designs that add increased safety for residents. Redford Township, Michigan was one of our winners, earning our 3rd place prize, a 25% grant towards tiles and installation. 

Redford Township’s splash pad is coming up on our 15th year of operation and continues to remain one of the most popular spring and summer destinations here in our community… This destination is free and open to the public regardless of what community they live in. Many of our families and surrounding community are low to moderate income so this provides an affordable fun option for summertime fun. Back when the project was completed, options for flooring for our system, budget and for sustainability was the brushed concrete. Over time and the high volume of usage, the concrete surfacing has worn down and has become very slippery over the past couple of years. We have tried several options through local contractors to find a solution, but unfortunately we made the decision to close the splash pad at the end of the 2019 season in order to find a safe, cost effective, long term solution. Since this time, we have been looking at options to re-open this popular summertime activity and maintain a safe flooring which is essential. Due to COVID this past year, Recreation Departments have been hit hard and unfortunately we had to put the project on hold. If Redford Township won the Make A Splash Contest this would help restore this amenity for the residents of not only our community but those around us and enable us to operate for many more years to come.
— Theresa Burgess, Redford Township Leisure Services Director
Before: Handy Park Splash Pad, Redford Township, Michigan

Before: Painted Concrete

Handy Park Splash Pad, Redford Township, Michigan

After: Life Floor

The safety issues Redford Township experienced with their surfacing at Handy Park really resonated with our team. We know how important splash pads can be to provide accessible water play to communities across the country so we were happy to award this municipality a prize to make their surfacing safer. Our Studio Team designed a High Tide Theme in a 401 Pattern for the 2000 sq ft installation to brighten up the splash pad while providing a budget-friendly option along with the 25% grant. 

This automobile-themed splash pad showcases a unique car wash spray feature to inspire kids to use their imagination as they drive through the jets and sprays. With a variety of elements from very small jets to larger dumping devices, there are water play activities available to engage guests of all ages, abilities, and comfort levels.

Handy Park Splash Pad, Redford Township, Michigan

When Kelsi Goss, our Vice President of Design, visited the splash pad one weekend this summer, she remarked at how many community members and families were enjoying this feature together.

It was great to see such a wide age range of kids having fun in the water and how many families chose to set up picnics and tents adjacent to the splash pad at Handy Park. I watched a few kids take a tumble but they bounced right up again to resume playing. This wouldn’t have been the case if they had fallen on concrete.
— Kelsi Goss, Life Floor Vice President of Design

Having Life Floor on the surface enables a variety of activities and types of risky play. Babies can crawl across the soft surface and begin to explore water play with smaller jets. Children can be found sprinting around the splash pad playing tag, hiding under the water umbrella, “driving” through the car wash, and even doing cartwheels. We’re happy to have helped improve this community feature so residents can fully enjoy all this splash pad has to offer! 

Handy Park Splash Pad, Redford Township, Michigan
Handy Park Splash Pad, Redford Township, Michigan

Thank you to Inside Edge Safety Surfaces for installing Life Floor at Handy Park Splash Pad and for partnering with us in the contest.

SEEING IS BELIEVING: HOW LIFE FLOOR TRANSFORMS AQUATIC FACILITIES

Since 2011, we’ve repeatedly seen the noticeable visual transformation that Life Floor can make at facilities. Brilliant pops of color have surfaced over drab, grey concrete and gorgeous, interactive themed designs have replaced failing pour-in-place products. Paired with the promise of safer surfaces, Life Floor makes all the difference. 

In honor of National Park and Recreation Month we’ve featured some of our favorite before and after photos of municipal projects below. 

Parr_Park_Oct2019_RGR24549.jpg

CEDARCREST SPLASH PAD - BLOOMINGTON, MN

Cedarcrest Splash Pad in Bloomington, MN is located near our Minneapolis office and is often shown to new hires and visitors as a classic example of a Life Floor installation. Before resurfacing with our foam-rubber tiles, Cedarcrest had grey concrete that was indistinguishable from the adjacent playground. This was a major issue for the facility because kids would often come running from the playground onto the splash pad only to fall because of the hard, slippery surface. Not to mention, the park lacked color and whimsy. By choosing Life Floor to increase safety and add design, a bright blue triangle gradient pattern now serves as a visual cue to visitors that the environment is changing as they enter the water play area. This resurfacing effort was so transformative on the look of the park that residents thought an entirely new splash pad had been installed! 

Before: Concrete

After: Life Floor

TRAILHEAD PARK SPLASH PAD - WINTER HAVEN, FL

The City of Winter Haven, FL originally built this splash pad in 2016 with a grey concrete finish. They resurfaced it with different products about 3-4 times over the years as they tried to reduce slip-and-fall accidents since they realized concrete was ultimately unsafe on its own. The aquatics division performed a significant amount of research as they searched for the best solution when they were finally introduced to Life Floor. The committee at Winter Haven ultimately opted for our safety surfacing, pleased with the fact that our tiles could reduce injuries while also being certified to NSF/ANSI/CAN Standard 50. This benefit of increased safety was paired with the vibrant blue square patterning that the city selected, visually enhancing the entire facility. 

Before: Concrete

After: Life Floor

PARR PARK SPLASH PAD - GRAPEVINE, TX

With concrete slabs on splash pads heating up to dangerous temperatures in hot climates like Texas, the City of Grapevine resorted to a concrete coating. Unfortunately, the coating increased the number of slip and fall injuries. The city approached Life Floor knowing our products feel cooler than concrete and remain slip-resistant when wet from their experience at the Pleasant Glade pool. The city also wanted a completely new and unique design to stand out from other splash pads in the community. Using a mottled effect across the splash pad with our hexagon shape, Life Floor was installed in a bright, modern color palette to create an elevated experience for visitors. 

Before: Concrete Coating

After: Life Floor

Veterans Park Splash Pad - Monroe Township, NJ

Veterans Park Splash Pad in Monroe Township, NJ was originally surfaced with a blue fleck pour-in-place product that was failing. It had needed to be patched multiple times and was getting into the facility’s filtration systems. It was difficult to clean and keep clean despite best efforts and the township was ready to replace the substrate with a more durable and easily cleanable surface. This is an issue our team has encountered on a countless number of refurbishments. Products designed for dry play simply don’t hold up in wet environments especially when paired with UV or chemical degradation over time. Inside Edge Safety Surfaces recommended Life Floor to the city and installed a beautiful 301 Pattern design at the splash pad. 

Before: Pour-in-Place

After: Life Floor

ANDREW BELLE SPLASH PAD - DOTHAN, AL

Prior to winning our 2020 Make a Splash! Grant Contest, Andrew Belle Splash Pad featured a concrete surface, similar to many other splash pads across the country. The community had a need to improve safety at this facility and a desire to brighten up the area with a vibrant design. With the addition of Life Floor, the Andrew Belle Splash Pad is now cushioned and slip-resistant while featuring a bold mix of square tiles, which have completely transformed the location. This upgrade was a welcome improvement for the local community who has already started enjoying their new surface this summer.

Before: Concrete

After: Life Floor


If you’re looking to transform a facility with Life Floor, we’d love to help you get started on your project. Please fill out the contact form here and one of our representatives will be in touch with you shortly!

BIG AND SMALL: LIFE FLOOR IS GOOD FOR ALL

Even though we showcase several large installations in our portfolio, no project is too small to take a step in the right direction and start mitigating risk. We have many customers that begin by addressing areas prone to slip and fall incidents such as small zero depth entries, landing pads, ramps, stairs, or locker room areas before deciding to expand Life Floor coverage to their splash pads, pool decks, or full waterparks. Below are some examples of our favorite small projects:

Piñon Park Splash Pad - Los Alamos County, NM - 1270 sq ft

Life Floor was specified by Surroundings Studio on Piñon Park’s project to increase safety and add a fun and beautiful design to the new splash pad. They were working with Los Alamos County and primarily interested in finding a product that could withstand altitude and UV while still delivering a strong warranty. Los Alamos County worked with their procurement office to get single source permission to buy Life Floor. 

Piñon Park Splash Pad - Los Alamos County, NM

Andrew Belle Splash Pad - Dothan, AL - 1358 sq ft

The Andrew Bell Splash Pad in Dothan, AL was our 2020 Make a Splash! Grant Contest winner. This facility wanted safety surfacing to solve many of their pain points and our contest provided the grant to make an upgrade possible for their neighborhood splash pad. To read the whole story, head over to our blog to learn more about this amazing community.

Andrew Belle Splash Pad - Dothan, AL

Belmont Splash Pad - Charlottesville, VA - 392 sq ft

Before installing Life Floor, Belmont Splash Pad’s surface was an epoxy-based substrate that needed to be replaced every year. They were tired of having to remove blue paint from their filters every day which was a hassle and ultimately unsustainable for their maintenance teams. By choosing Life Floor to replace their old surfacing, they were able to overcome this pain point while making this feature safer and more appealing to annual budgets.

Belmont Splash Pad - Charlottesville, VA

Prince George's County, MD Project

Some local governments decide to group their projects across multiple parks in their county or city to tackle the highest risk areas first. Common zones that are addressed first include zero depth entries and ramps. Prince George’s County grouped five small projects together to help increase positive experiences for their communities:

Allentown, MD Splash Fitness and Tennis Center Zero Depth Entry - 550 sq ft 

Allentown, MD Splash Fitness and Tennis Center Zero Depth Entry - 550 sq ft 

North Barnaby Pool, MD Zero Depth Entry - 150 sq ft

North Barnaby Pool, MD Zero Depth Entry - 150 sq ft

Hamilton Splash Park, MD Zero Depth Entry - 150 sq ft

Hamilton Splash Park, MD Zero Depth Entry - 150 sq ft

Linson E Ellen Pool, MD Main Pool & Baby Pool - 450 sq ft

Linson E Ellen Pool, MD Main Pool & Baby Pool - 450 sq ft

Lane Manor, MD Recreation Center & Splash Park - 1,600 sq ft

Lane Manor, MD Recreation Center & Splash Park - 1,600 sq ft

Cedarcrest Park Splash Pad - Bloomington, MN - 1,520 sq ft 

We helped the City of Bloomington, Minnesota retrofit their 1,500 square foot splash pad at Cedarcrest Park in 2017. Cedarcrest Park Splash Pad features the first examples of two Life Floor concepts: Ripple 2.0 and a triangle gradient design. This surfacing update visually transformed the whole park where it’s located. Even in its fifth year of operation, this splash pad still looks beautiful and has remained safe despite being covered by snowfall each winter. See more here.

Cedarcrest Park Splash Pad - Bloomington, MN

We’ve been excited to make a difference in these communities and to see all of these facilities reopen this season! Thank you to Inside Edge Safety Surfaces for installing all of these impactful projects. For customers that have smaller areas in mind, many of our partners like Inside Edge Safety Surfaces or Great Mats are available to manage the process. If you’re interested in receiving a quote for your project, big or small, we'd love to hear about it! Contact us today to get started.