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Memorial Park Splash Pad

Decatur, TX, USA

Project Details

Location: Decatur, TX, USA

Application: Community Splash Pad

Year of Installation: 2026

Main Features:

  • Mega Soaker
  • Parasol
  • U.S.O.
  • Spiral Tunnel
  • Splash Blaster
  • Magnif-Eye

A Splash Pad Built for Community, Comfort, and Decatur Pride.

When the City of Decatur, Texas, looked at the space near its police and fire departments, they saw more than an available site. They saw an opportunity to create a local amenity that could honour first responders, welcome families, and give the community a refreshing place to come together. 

With hot Texas summers in mind, the city saw a splash pad as a natural fit: an engaging, accessible feature that could bring energy to the site, invite residents of all ages, and support potential park enhancements in the future. 

The project was facilitated through Sourcewell, a national cooperative purchasing program that helps government agencies, educational institutions, and non-profits across the United States and Canada save time and money when purchasing Waterplay products through Sourcewell. By leveraging Sourcewell, the City of Decatur was able to access discounted rates and support throughout the procurement process, helping the project move forward with confidence. 

Working closely with Waterplay, the City of Decatur brought that vision to life through a colourful splash pad designed for everyday fun, long-term community use, and a strong sense of local pride. Through Waterplay’s community responsive design approach, the project became a place-making opportunity: one that reflects Decatur’s identity, honours the site’s connection to first responders, and gives families a destination that feels rooted in the community. 

The Challenge

Located between Decatur’s police and fire departments, Memorial Park presented a unique design opportunity. From the beginning, the city wanted the splash pad to reflect its connection to both departments and incorporate meaningful visual elements that would make the space feel distinctly local. The challenge was not only to design a fun splash pad, but to create a public space that responded to its setting, celebrated community identity, and felt connected to the people who would use it. 

The goal was to design a splash pad that felt exciting without feeling overwhelming, active without feeling crowded, and playful without losing sight of comfort, visibility, and accessibility. Families with young children, older kids looking for more active play, caregivers watching from the sidelines, and visitors with different comfort levels around water all had to feel considered in the final design. 

Waterplay kept those needs at the centre of the layout, selecting features that supported safe movement, clear sightlines, and a splash pad experience that waterplayers of different ages and abilities could enjoy. With Sourcewell helping simplify the purchasing pathway, the team could stay focused on creating a thoughtful public space that reflected Decatur’s goals. 

The Solution

Waterplay approached the Memorial Park Splash Pad as both a play experience and a public gathering space. The goal was to create a vibrant and inclusive experience, with the energy kids love and the thoughtful planning communities rely on. 

That place-making mindset guided the theming throughout the splash pad. At the centre of the design is a Waterplay Mega Soaker dumping bucket, creating a bold focal point that brings energy and anticipation to the space. A custom City of Decatur graphic on the Mega Soaker ties the splash pad back to the community, turning a high-impact play feature into a celebration of civic pride. 

Customization also carried through to the Lily Pad ground sprays, which feature graphics inspired by the Decatur police and fire department logos. These details do more than decorate the space. They connect the splash pad to its surroundings, honour the neighbouring departments, and help create a place that feels proudly and unmistakably Decatur. 

Safety and visibility were key considerations throughout the design. Waterplay’s feature selection and layout created open sightlines across the splash pad, making it easier for parents and caregivers to watch children as they move through the space. The fenced splash pad area adds another layer of comfort, helping support a play environment that feels active, open, and thoughtfully planned. 

To support different ages, abilities, and play styles, the design includes a mix of high-energy, interactive, and gentle water experiences. Kids can choose their own level of adventure, whether they want to race through sprays, take part in splash battles, or enjoy softer water effects like ground sprays along the edges of the action. 

WP Blog Graphics (7).jpg

The Implementation 

With a finalized design and procurement support through Sourcewell, Waterplay worked closely with the City of Decatur, Hawkins & Sons, and other project partners to help bring the space from concept to completion. 

A bright colour palette gives the splash pad a playful, welcoming feel, while the Sundek surfacing helps unify the overall design. The original surfacing concept included blue and red tones with white star accents, but after considering how red could fade under the Texas sun, the team made an intentional adjustment. The final dark blue and light blue surfacing, complete with star details, created a durable finish while keeping the design bold, bright, and connected to the community. 

Tall Waterplay features like the Parasol, Helices, and Roue Cyr add vertical movement and the joyful feeling of water raining down from above. A Spiral Tunnel helps guide movement across the splash pad, encouraging kids to run, weave, and explore. 

Splash Blasters invite collaborative play and friendly splash battles, while gentler features like the Magnif-Eye, Fun-Brella, and U.S.O. offer lower-intensity moments for younger visitors or those who prefer to stay out of the biggest sprays. 

Ground sprays add variety across the splash pad surface, while a Power Post activator gives kids the excitement of starting the water themselves. This feature also supports more efficient, water-conscious operation by keeping water from running continuously when the splash pad is not in use. 

A Waterplay recirculation water treatment system (WTS) was also installed as part of the project, adding another layer of support for long-term operation. Ideal for large splash pads, the WTS 450helps water flow smoothly to the features on the pad while the low-maintenance Clear Comfort AOP system helps support clean, reliable water quality as water is recirculated through the splash pad. 

Once installation was complete, Waterplay team members travelled to Decatur to commission the splash pad. This included confirming that the water management system was installed correctly, filling the water tanks, balancing chemicals, and making sure the system was in good working order. 

Before the project was turned over to the client, Waterplay’s product support team trained the maintenance crews and city staff who would be responsible for day-to-day operations. This hands-on support helped ensure the team had the knowledge and confidence to operate and maintain the splash pad after opening day.

The Outcome

The finished Memorial Park Splash Pad is a vibrant, community-minded amenity designed for comfort, accessibility, and repeat visits. With gated access, generous parking, shaded seating areas, modern washrooms, clean drinking water, and an emergency phone, the park makes it easy for families and visitors to spend time there on hot Texas days. 

By combining a streamlined purchasing pathway through Sourcewell, thoughtful Waterplay design support, customized community graphics, and hands-on commissioning and training, the project became more than a place to play. It became a meaningful addition to Memorial Park: a destination shaped by Decatur’s identity, built around family-friendly use, and designed to help residents feel connected to the space. 

As Memorial Park continues to serve the community, the splash pad stands as an energetic anchor for the site: a safe, vibrant, and playful destination where Decatur’s community pride shows up in every splash. 

Project Partners: 

  • City of Decatur 
  • Hawkins & Sons (Greg Hawkins) 

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