- Project experience
- Public amenities
- Services
- Design
- Equipment sourcing
- Installation
- Company accreditation
- CHAS
- Affiliations
- Association of Play Industries
- Constructionline
- Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents
- Year completed
- 2025
- Client
- Witney Town Council
Overview
Ustigate Waterplay was contracted to design and build a new splash park at The Leys, inspired by a local river, for Witney Town Council. The rainbow surfacing was selected by children, and the design includes 15 water features that also help conserve water and energy, whilst promoting movement around the area.
Challenge
Witney is a charming, historic market town in West Oxfordshire, located 12 miles west of Oxford on the River Windrush. Water play had proven to be very popular at The Leys in Witney but the water management system was problematic, resulting in down time and remedial costs.
In 2024 Witney Town Council stated: “The equipment is aged and temperamental and the council is doing its best with the support of specialist contractors to keep it running. Rather than close the park this year the decision was made to maintain the existing infrastructure to enable the town to enjoy this popular feature as much as possible.”
Councillors and staff carried out public consultation at Witney Carnival on July 13th 2024, to enable children to pick their favourite designs, in anticipation of a future refurbishment.
Project detail
Ustigate was awarded the contract to design and build a new water play facility for Witney Town Council. The design is inspired by the River Windrush in Witney, a shallow meandering lowland river, and a tranquil, scenic watercourse that shaped the historic development of the town. The Council made a special request that the surface depict rainbows because children picked out a water play area with rainbows as being their favourite at public consultation.
The design includes 15 water play features that run on sequence and via activation to conserve water and energy, whilst promoting movement around the area for children to interact with the varying activities and water effects. At busy times, the Council can alter the sequencing with Ustigate's in-house controller to maximise the water play experiences for a large group of children.
There are two above-ground items.
An Aqualien Flower No.3 that sprays water north, resulting in cascading water falling down Aqualien’s Seeflow™ dome. Children love getting under Aqualien, and running their fingers through Aqualien’s water effects.
A bright yellow Snail No.2 with a burst of water and 360° Turntec™ technology enabling children to take Snail on a spin.
The remaining water features are an array of inclusive ground sprays that deliver different water shapes, heights and directions. The Side Winder is the biggest fountain and a beautiful sight to see, with its swirling aquatic streams that widen from the ground up.
To maximise the water play experiences more, there is an area where water pools and a little weir to navigate flow play, and a stepping bridge to cross over this playful water course.
The water management system is a low-maintenance, flow-through system where water is drawn from the mains supply to feed the water play. An additional grey water tank was supplied and installed to enable the Council to collect and repurpose the water for local irrigation.
