Context

Hinksey Park is a green and watery haven for people and wildlife, just a 15 minute walk or cycle from Oxford city centre. There are plentiful activities on offer with tennis courts, an outdoor swimming pool, a playground and sand pit, table tennis, a splash pad and a pathed walk past pond life, through woodland to lakeside views. Hinksey Park is also home to a model-boating, sculling and scuba-diving club.

Challenge

The splash pad had deteriorated due to its age and, as water play had been very popular at Hinksey Park since the 1960s, it was important to carry out a refurbishment. The new facility needed to be safe, fun and sustainable, with a range of interactive features and improvements to optimise water usage.

Project detail

The project was funded by a £100,000 grant from FCC Communities Foundation, with the remaining investment provided by Oxford City Council.

Ustigate Waterplay was awarded the contract to work collaboratively to upgrade the water play area to an all-year-round play space featuring a new 481m2 splash pad and 260m2 balance bike and scooter track.

Work began in September 2024 and the new splash park and mini-wheels track opened on 4th April 2025.

Outcome

Hinksey Park’s new play space has been popular throughout 2025, attracting families and friends to visit and enjoy all the activities on offer. The new play area is bursting with play value with Vortex play items that appeal to all ages and abilities, inclusive play panels along the fenceline, hopscotch and the new mini-wheels track to navigate. The Vortex water features are interactive and efficient in terms of water usage. Feature activation and sequencing enables water conservation, whilst heightening the playful experiences.

In Nov 2025 all of the teams involved received a Community Impact Award for the Hinksey Little Wheels and Wet Play Park from the Oxford Preservation Trust.

Comments

“We’re pleased to be able to provide this free leisure facility for families in Oxford. Water play has been part of Hinksey Park since the 1960s, and the new splash park continues that tradition with a modern, sustainable design. The addition of a mini-wheels track means there’s something for children to enjoy all year round. We’re proud to invest in our local community and play areas to support local communities and outdoor play.”
– Jane Winfield, Director of Property and Assets, Oxford City Council 

“We are delighted to have worked with the City Council to fund this project for the local community to enjoy. It’s great to see it now open and available for use, just in time for the Easter School holidays. Thank you to everyone who has worked so hard on this project.”
– Cheryl Raynor, FCC Community Foundations Grant Manager