Themed Entertainment is Making Waves in Aquatics

Waterparks have been thrilling guests with their ever-growing diversity of waterslides, play areas, wave pools, lazy rivers, and attractions. While they’re often thought of as very separate entities, these destinations usually operate adjacent to theme parks. As a result, many of the design principles in themed entertainment have historically shaped the space for aquatics. As new trends emerge, those are beginning to make their way into the world of water as well. Here are just a few:  

Interactive Play 

Guests are given the ability to cast spells in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and immerse themselves in life-size gameplay at Super Nintendo World. This level of interactivity, autonomy, and ability to truly feel part of themed worlds creates a new type of guest experience. At water play venues, guests enjoy shooting water cannons, pivoting spray features, and engaging with water tables. Some features are button-activated. Overall, guests are more engaged with these splash pads and can interact with others through the experience. 

Immersive Technology 

PHOTO CREDIT: MOMENT FACTORY

At themed venues, projection mapping creates interactive floors and drives nighttime spectaculars. Large-scale touchscreens entertain guests in line queues and massive facilities like the Sphere immerse guests in ways never experienced before. We’re seeing glimpses of this influence in the aquatic world. On a smaller scale, cities are hosting dive-in movies and guests are entertained by animations inside the AquaMouse water coaster on Disney’s Wish. On a much more developed scale, some water parks envelop entire spaces with dynamic lighting and projections, fully immersing guests in a new world of aquatics. The Thea Award-winning areas shaped by this technology at Aquascope (in collaboration with Moment Factory) have shown the potential for other indoor parks to follow suit. 

The Power of Storytelling 

Every amazing themed entertainment experience engages guests with a story that draws them through an attraction or shapes the design details of an environment. Some of the best water parks have come with such narratives, and they’re reflected in nearly every design and branding decision that shapes the experience - Blizzard Beach, Typhoon Lagoon, and Volcano Bay, to name a few. Beyond specs for spray features and play structures, we’ve seen smaller parks and municipal attractions lean into theming on their floors, walls, and across their facilities. 

Overlay of IP and Creation of Brand Experiences

Without a doubt, theme parks have been heavily influenced by movie and television IP that shapes their attractions and experiences. Smaller, location-based experiences are gaining traction, bringing these stories to guests around the country and the world. While early waterparks may have relied primarily on loose beach-focused theming, many are now also tying into IP and brands. An award-winning waterpark of note taps into several Nickelodeon shows at Aqua Nick Riviera Maya. Gabby’s Dollhouse: Kitty Splash Garden also recently debuted at American Dream. Disney has aptly themed many of their resort and waterpark aquatics after shows including a Finding Nemo design at Pixar Place Hotel, Moana feature at Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows, and a Frozen-inspired splash pad at Blizzard Beach. Basing these attractions on known IPs lends to unique design opportunities, bringing beloved stories to guests across a variety of aquatic amenities.

Inclusive Play

One of this year’s Thea Award winners, Adventure Play at Windsor Great Park, was designed as a fully inclusive and accessible playground. Attractions designed to provide guests of all abilities with a stellar experience often innovate to create more diverse and engaging spaces for everyone. We’ve been lucky enough to participate in aquatic enhancements to improve accessibility at both Morgan’s Wonderland and Give Kids the World Village. The success of these facilities underscores the importance of inclusive design considerations to improve experiences worldwide. 

Creating New Location-Based Experiences

With the advent of surf parks, a new type of aquatic experience and destination has emerged. The same is true for themed entertainment as the interests of guests evolve. We’re seeing more localized entertainment and pop-ups. One instance of this in aquatics is made possible by a variety of wave technologies. From FlowRider’s systems on cruise ships and at resorts to Ka’ana Wave Co’s surf machines that can be installed in smaller bodies of water, all the way up to massive technologies like WhiteWater’s Endless Surf featured at O2 SURFTOWN MUC, new aquatic experiences are popping up at destinations all over the world. These locations, designed to make surfing more accessible regardless of location, almost always come with amenities to keep guests entertained and comfortable when not actively participating in sessions.

All of these trends have certainly brought joy and excitement to guests wherever they’ve been implemented. While this overlap between themed entertainment and the aquatic world exists, we still see the potential for so much more imaginative design, tech overlays, and interactivity. Contact us to collaborate with our Design Studio to dream up the next big thing.

Cleaning Life Floor During the Busy Season – Tips for Aquatic Operators

Summer is here, and so is peak traffic season for aquatic facilities. While fun and foot traffic soar, so does the strain on your surfaces. For aquatic operators using Life Floor, a slip-resistant surface that thrives in wet environments, now is the time to double down on a smart, efficient cleaning strategy.

Life Floor is uniquely engineered from a foam-rubber material, which means cleaning it requires a different approach than traditional surfaces. With the right approach, you’ll not only maintain visual appeal and safety but also extend the life of your floor. Here’s how to handle the most common seasonal contaminants and keep your Life Floor in top condition.

Combat Surface Rust from Slide Towers and Fixtures

Problem: Rust stains frequently form where water runs off metal structures, such as slide towers or exposed hardware, especially in outdoor areas.

Solution: Use a mineral deposit remover (MDR) with 30–40% phosphoric acid, diluted appropriately (up to 1:5 for aggressive cleaning). Apply with a squeeze bottle, not a sprayer, and scrub using a medium-soft bristle deck brush. Never let the solution dry on the tile. Rinse thoroughly and follow with a degreaser to remove any remaining film.

Remove Calcium Deposits Near Ladders and in Standing Water

Problem: Hard water deposits—white, chalky buildup around ladders, drains, and any area with poor drainage.

Solution: These are alkaline deposits and respond best to acidic cleaners, such as peroxide or mineral deposit remover (MDR). In stubborn areas (often between tiles or where water collects), apply MDR directly, allow a short dwell time (2 minutes), scrub, and rinse thoroughly. Repeat if necessary for heavy buildup.

Manage Sunscreen and Lotion Buildup in High-Traffic Areas

Problem: Oils from spray-on sunscreen, tanning products, and lotions are tough on surfaces and attract additional debris.

Solution: Use a sodium-based degreaser at a stronger dilution (1:5) and clean every other week (or more frequently during high-traffic periods) with a floor scrubber or auto-scrubber. For best results, apply cleaner liberally, allow it to dwell, then scrub before recovering the cleaner and thoroughly rinsing the area.

Dealing with Chewing Gum on Life Floor

Problem: Chewing gum can quickly become an unsightly nuisance on pool decks, especially when it gets ground into the textured surface.

Solution: Start by applying ice to the gum to harden it. Once firm, gently lift it with a plastic scraper or putty knife; avoid anything sharp that could gouge the foam surface. For any remaining residue, apply WD-40 and gently scrub with a cloth until the gum is fully removed. Rinse the area thoroughly and follow with a degreaser cleaner to ensure no oily residue remains on the surface.

Spot Cleaning Strategy for Problem Areas

Tip: Not every part of your facility needs the same cleaner. Locker rooms and bathrooms are best maintained with peroxide-based cleaners, while decks with high food traffic or heavy sunscreen use benefit more from degreasers. For calcium and rust, the mineral deposit remover is your best friend.

Sample cleaning rotation for an outdoor aquatic area:

  • Week 1: Cleaner Degreaser

  • Week 2: Cleaner Degreaser

  • Week 3: Peroxide Cleaner

  • Spot clean as needed: Mineral deposit remover


Sample cleaning rotation for an indoor aquatic area:

  • Week 1: Peroxide Cleaner

  • Week 2: Peroxide Cleaner

  • Week 3: Cleaner Degreaser

  • Spot clean as needed: Mineral deposit remover

Repeat this schedule and adjust based on your traffic and trouble spots.

Avoid These Common Cleaning Mistakes

  • Never scrub Life Floor when dry or use stiff or metal brushes. They can damage the surface texture.

  • Rinse thoroughly after cleaning. If foam appears when spraying the floor, that’s a sign that cleaning products are still lingering.

  • Check your cleaner’s pH. Acidic soils require an alkaline degreaser; alkaline deposits require an acidic cleaner.

  • Don’t power wash unless absolutely necessary—and even then, use <800 PSI with a 20°+ fan tip and stand at least 12 inches from the floor.

Your Summer Cleaning Toolkit

Be sure to have these on hand:

Final Thoughts

Life Floor is built to withstand the demands of your busiest season, but it thrives with consistent, appropriate care. With the right tools and schedule in place, you can minimize downtime, maintain safety, and keep your facility looking its best all summer long. 

Need help troubleshooting a tough stain?
Visit lifefloor.com/cleaning-life-floor or email the experts at solutions@lifefloor.com.

Beyond the Surface: How Industry Involvement Powers Progress at Life Floor

At Life Floor, we believe that building safer, more inclusive aquatic environments begins with active engagement in the organizations that define, influence, and elevate our industry. These associations and standard-setting bodies are the foundation of progress, driving innovation, ensuring public safety, and shaping the future of recreational water spaces. We’re proud to support and participate in a wide network of industry-leading organizations, contributing to conversations that affect everything from surfacing safety and water quality to themed attraction design and inclusive play.

Our commitment goes beyond product design; we participate in boardrooms, task forces, conference panels, and certification programs to contribute to the conversations that matter. We’re proud to support and engage with a diverse network of industry-leading organizations dedicated to enhancing aquatic spaces worldwide.

Continuing Education: Certified and Informed

To better serve our clients and stay ahead of evolving industry standards, 13 Life Floor team members have earned the Certified Pool Operator (CPO) certification through the Pool and Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA). This designation enhances our understanding of aquatic operations, water chemistry, and facility management, enabling us to support our partners and clients with greater precision and care.

Influencing Safety Standards from the Inside

Jonathan Keller, CEO, and Brian Howell, Director of Strategic Initiatives, are highly involved with standards organizations that directly impact aquatic safety:

  • At NSF International, Jonathan chairs the NSF-50 Safety Surfacing Task Group, and both Brian and Jonathan participate in the NSF-50 Joint Committee and related task forces throughout the year.

  • Both are actively engaged with ASTM Committee F24, helping develop and maintain standards for amusement rides, aquatic surfacing, and slip resistance through the F2461 Slips & Friction Task Group, which meets monthly.

  • Brian also represents Life Floor at the ASTM F24 annual conference, where new initiatives are balloted and adopted.

  • Additionally, they regularly contribute as speakers at the World Aquatic Health Conference (WAHC), Pool & Hot Tub Alliance events, and regional forums, such as the Minnesota Recreation & Park Association (MRPA).

These contributions enable Life Floor to be part of the conversation as safety standards evolve, ensuring that our product development is grounded in both science and practical application.

Inspiration FOR IMMERSIVE DESIGNS

As a Board Member for the Western North America Division of the Themed Entertainment Association (TEA), Kelsi Goss, VP of Design, brings a wealth of creative insight to Life Floor. The TEA unites professionals from museums, location-based experiences, cruise ships, theme parks, and more, making it an ideal network for innovation in experiential design.

Kelsi’s participation in annual events like INSPIRE and SATE helps keep Life Floor’s Studio team closely aligned with the latest design trends, guest experience innovations, and creative strategies used by the world’s top attractions.

Building Stronger Communities Through Leadership

Our commitment to leadership extends beyond safety standards. Several of our team members hold leadership roles in organizations focused on equity, education, and innovation.

Emily Freihammer, VP of Operations, has recently taken on two new roles that reflect her commitment to industry advancement and community leadership.

As Director of Sponsorship for the Minnesota Chapter of Women in Manufacturing (WiM), she works to strengthen connections with local manufacturers and support initiatives that promote diversity in the field.

She also joined the Strategic Planning Committee for the Plant People Growing Justice Leadership Institute (PPGJLI), contributing to the development of actionable strategies focused on education, training, and community engagement. 

These roles extend Life Floor’s reach beyond the aquatic industry, reinforcing our belief that better design begins with inclusive leadership and strong community roots.

Partnering with Industry Leaders

We are proud to be actively involved in a wide range of associations that support and elevate the aquatic and recreation industries. These include:


Each of these organizations plays a vital role in shaping the future of public recreation, from refining safety standards to enhancing guest experiences.

A Global Perspective on Aquatics

Our Australian team adds an important international voice to our work, engaging with organizations like:

By participating in region-specific discussions, we can adapt our products and designs to meet the diverse needs, climates, and regulatory environments of different regions around the world.

Working Together for a Safer, Smarter Future

As the aquatic industry evolves through new technologies, guest expectations, and safety standards, collaboration across sectors is more important than ever. Our ongoing involvement with professional organizations, certification programs, and strategic partnerships ensures that we stay ahead of the curve while remaining deeply connected to the people who use and operate aquatic spaces every day.

We’re proud to contribute to the growth of this industry, and even prouder to stand alongside the experts, advocates, and professionals who are shaping its future.

Want to learn more about how we collaborate across the industry to build safer, smarter aquatic spaces? Explore our work at www.lifefloor.com or connect with us to start the conversation.

Life Floor Wins Meaningful Capitalism Award 2025

We're thrilled to announce that Life Floor has been awarded the 2025 Meaningful Capitalism Award by Platinum Group! This recognition celebrates companies that achieve financial success and make a tangible, positive impact on individuals, families, and communities.

Within the application, we not only shared financial metrics, but also how we impact our community in thoughtful ways. Some highlights include our philanthropic efforts, industry-leading certifications, and the numerous organizations we regularly support. We also shared how our core values inform our practices and how we seek employee feedback in everything we do through qualitative and quantitative measures.

We’re constantly pushing toward innovation to improve what we can offer our customers, partners, and end-users. For example, we’ve invested over $2M over the last 5 years to develop our products to last even longer in any climate or aquatic environment. Our goal is not to be the only safety surface on the market, but we do strive to be the best through innovation, collaboration, excellence, and integrity. 

“Life Floor, stands out for its commitment to safety, accessibility, and design excellence in aquatic environments. Their innovative flooring solutions enhance the well-being of countless families, embodying the very essence of Meaningful Capitalism.”
— The Platinum Group

Jonathan Keller, CEO and Founder of Life Floor

In his acceptance speech, CEO of Life Floor, Jonathan Keller shares, “I was at a conference a couple of weeks ago, where I heard a quote from John Mark Comer that really struck me, ‘We’re called to a very specific kind of work. To make a Garden-like world where image bearers can flourish and thrive, where people can experience and enjoy God’s generous love. A kingdom where God’s will is done ‘on earth as it is in heaven,’ where the glass wall between earth and heaven is so thin and clear and translucent that you don’t even remember it’s there.’ This struck me, because I believe that honest, meaningful work is an act of worship. God created us and everything in this universe. God is the owner of everything, and we are the stewards entrusted to be fruitful and exercise dominion over the earth. Ultimately as business owners and leaders, we are called to create environments where Heaven and Earth collide. For Life Floor, it just so happens that the little niche where we, at Life Floor, get to do that is aquatic safety surfacing, which also happens to be a lot of fun.”

The Life Floor Team, January 2025

Keller continues, “at Life Floor we believe all aquatic spaces should be safe, beautiful, and inclusive to all people. That’s our ‘why’, which is important to meaningful, or, what I think of as redemptive capitalism. The ‘how’ you do business and the ‘who’ are also quite important.”

“When my 3 other co-founders and I founded this business 14 years ago, the Meaningful Capitalism Award didn’t exist, but the passion and naivete of 24-year-old millennials did. We wanted to create a business that would make a return, but also make a difference. We wanted to work at a company where we enjoyed our colleagues and learned from them. We wanted a place where people who interacted with us—our investors, our suppliers, our partners, our customers—knew that they mattered.”

“Starting up a company takes a lot of work. Creating a market for a product takes a lot of work. All that work can be seen as a burden or a privilege, but ultimately, I see it as one of my highest honors to be able to love people well through our work. I see it as our job to help make that collision of heaven and earth a reality in our companies.”

 
 

Our team mascot is the bison. Unlike cows who run from the storm and end up being in the worst of it for longer, bison face the storm head on and charge into it because they know better weather is on the other side. We encourage our team members to be like bison. Even though conversations may be difficult or new regulations might mean we have to pivot our products, we will embrace the unknown and charge into it together as a team.

At Life Floor, we strive to integrate our lives with our work in order to make a difference in other people’s lives. Despite being a niche company in a niche industry, we strive each day to be a force for positive, meaningful change. We encourage other organizations to be bold in their efforts to bring about positive impact and to embrace difficult situations, because that is how we learn and grow as a community.

We extend a sincere thank you to Randy Kroll for nominating Life Floor and believing in our mission, values, and the strength we bring to the aquatics industry.

The award ceremony took place on May 6, 2025, where Life Floor was honored alongside other exemplary companies: All In One Accounting, Structures Inc., and True North Family of Companies.

Why Moms Love Life Floor: Stories of Safety, Comfort, + Joy

Moms know that when it comes to their kids, safety is everything. That’s why more and more families are seeking out splash pads, aquatic centers, and waterparks with Life Floor. Designed to be slip-resistant, cushioned, and cool underfoot, Life Floor transforms the water play experience—giving moms peace of mind while letting their kids explore, run, crawl, and splash without fear of injury. From first crawls to multigenerational play, these real stories show how Life Floor is helping families connect with more comfort and less stress.

Life Floor: Proudly Made in the U.S.A. – Honoring Our South Dakota Roots

At Life Floor, our work is driven by our core values:

  • People First – From children at play to staff in aquatic facilities, we put people's safety and comfort at the center of everything we do.

  • Impact Driven – We design for meaningful change, improving the built environment and setting new standards for what safety looks and feels like.

  • Collaborative by Nature – Our team works hand-in-hand with clients, designers, and contractors to bring visionary spaces to life.

  • Always with Integrity – We stand behind our product and process with transparency, accountability, and pride.

These values are at the heart of our South Dakota facility and every project we support. We're proud to say that Life Floor is Made in the U.S.A.—and made for the world.

How Waterbom Bali + Life Floor Celebrate Earth Day Every Day

In celebration of Earth Day, we’re highlighting a Life Floor project that proves eco-conscious fun is possible. Waterbom Bali is a water park unlike any other, where sustainability is built into everything – from solar-powered systems and upcycled design to safe, soft play surfaces made with kids (and the planet) in mind. Learn how Waterbom is setting a global example, one splash at a time.

Spring Break Waterpark Bucket List

Spring Break is here, and whether you're dreaming of a tropical cruise, a thrilling waterpark adventure, or a relaxing resort getaway, Life Floor has left its mark on some of the most exciting destinations in the world. To celebrate, we asked our team: If you could visit any Life Floor project for Spring Break, which one would it be and why?

Their answers highlight some of our most popular installations, offering plenty of inspiration for your next aquatic adventure!

Top Life Floor Destinations for Spring Break

Icon of the Seas – The Ultimate Cruise Adventure

Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas topped the list for several employees, and it's easy to see why! This brand-new cruise ship is packed with adventure, featuring massive water slides, endless entertainment, and even a stop at Perfect Day at CocoCay, where Life Floor enhances the safety and comfort of its world-class water attractions.

"I've been dying to sail on Icon of the Seas to experience Royal Caribbean's newest cruise ship. As an added bonus, it would stop at CocoCay, which features Life Floor as well. Even better if it also stopped at Nassau, home to Baha Bay – the most beautiful waterpark I’ve ever visited!"

”I think any cruise ship would be incredibly fun to visit with kids. You don't have to worry about packing up a car every day; you just leave the room and explore.”

Baha Bay at Baha Mar – The Perfect Tropical Escape

For a more relaxing getaway, Baha Bay at Baha Mar in the Bahamas offers a mix of thrills and tranquility. With Life Floor featured throughout the park, visitors can enjoy the beauty of a luxury resort with the safety and comfort of our slip-resistant surfaces.

"Baha Bay would be the perfect spot for a couples' getaway – relaxing at a tropical resort and enjoying the beautiful waterslides."

Wet’n’Wild Gold Coast – A Thrill-Seeker’s Dream

Australia is a dream Spring Break destination, and Wet’n’Wild Gold Coast stands out as an employee favorite. With its thrilling waterslides and sprawling aquatic play areas, this park offers something for everyone. Plus, exploring Australia for the first time is an adventure in itself!

"I've always wanted to go to Australia, and Queensland has so much to do!"

Aqua Nick – Family Fun with a Splash of Nostalgia

Looking for a kid-friendly Spring Break destination? Aqua Nick, located at Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts, brings favorite cartoon characters to life with a massive water play structure, making it a dream destination for families.

"I think my kids would have the most fun at Aqua Nick, given the SpongeBob theming and the giant WhiteWater play structure."

Jellystone Parks – A Laid-Back Camping & Waterpark Combo

Jellystone Park Resorts offers the perfect mix of camping and water fun for those who love the great outdoors. Whether you're road-tripping with friends or looking for a family-friendly adventure, Jellystone’s splash pads and water play areas (featuring Life Floor!) offer a fun and safe way to cool off.

"I like camping, and Jellystone would be a great spot to visit with friends!"

“I can’t imagine a better trip for our family, enjoying nature and a waterpark!”

Life Floor: Elevating Every Aquatic Destination

No matter where Spring Break takes you, Life Floor is proud to enhance some of the most exciting aquatic destinations worldwide. From cruise ships to waterparks and resorts, our surfaces provide safety, comfort, and a touch of luxury to every adventure.

Where would you go for Spring Break?

Life Floor + Landmark Aquatic Announce Partnership Through the Registered Aquatic Partner Program

Sar Ko Par Aquatic Center, Life Floor + Landmark Aquatic Project

Life Floor, the industry leader in aquatic safety surfacing, is proud to announce a strategic partnership with Landmark Aquatic through its Registered Aquatic Partner (RAP) Program. This one-year agreement, effective February 5, 2025, establishes Landmark Aquatic as a trusted partner in promoting Life Floor’s commitment to safety, quality, and innovation in aquatic environments.

As a Registered Aquatic Partner, Landmark Aquatic upholds Life Floor’s core values, brand standards, quality expectations, and knowledge principles. Through this partnership, Landmark Aquatic will enhance its ability to deliver superior aquatic solutions by integrating Life Floor’s award-winning, NSF-certified, slip-resistant flooring into their projects.

Belterra Community Splash, Life Floor + Landmark Aquatic Project

“We are thrilled to welcome Landmark Aquatic into our RAP Program,” said MaryAnn Eifert, Director of Registered Aquatic Partnerships and Training at Life Floor. “Their dedication to excellence in aquatic design, construction, and maintenance aligns perfectly with our mission to create safer, more enjoyable aquatic spaces. We look forward to collaborating on innovative projects that set new industry standards.”

“Partnering with Life Floor was a core decision in building Landmark’s portfolio of great partner companies,” said Jessica Mahoney, Vice President of Marketing for Landmark Aquatic.  “Their commitment to innovation, and the highest standard of quality, emulates perfectly what we at Landmark strive to deliver to our customers at every level of service. We are proud to be associated with a company and product that delivers so much ‘colorful fun and functionality’ in aquatics.”

Blue Surf Bay Waterpark, Life Floor + Landmark Aquatic Project


Upon completion of the initial one-year partnership term on December 31, 2025, Landmark Aquatic will have the opportunity to enter into a three-year partnership agreement, further solidifying the relationship between the two companies.

Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park, Life Floor + Landmark Aquatic Project


About Life Floor

Life Floor is a revolutionary aquatic safety surface designed to make water play areas safer, more comfortable, and visually stunning. Engineered for wet environments, our soft, slip-resistant flooring provides a cushioned, non-abrasive surface that helps prevent slips and falls, ensuring a safer experience for guests of all ages. As the trusted choice for water parks, pools, splash pads, and cruise ships worldwide, Life Floor is NSF-certified, UV-stable, and built to withstand the harshest aquatic conditions while maintaining vibrant colors and long-lasting durability.


With an unwavering commitment to quality, innovation, and safety, Life Floor partners with architects, designers, and aquatic professionals to create custom solutions that enhance the form and function of every aquatic space. Our mission is simple: to transform aquatic environments into safer, more beautiful spaces where people can confidently enjoy the water.

About Landmark Aquatic

Delivering Excellence at Every Stage

Landmark Aquatic is committed to excellence at every stage of commercial aquatic development and care. With offices in key metro areas across the U.S., Landmark Aquatic is uniquely positioned to deliver top-tier aquatic solutions nationwide. They uphold the highest standards of quality and service, offering innovative design, engineering, construction, renovation, restoration, and ongoing maintenance to ensure facilities operate safely and efficiently. Their factory-trained Certified Pool Operators (CPOs) provide unmatched expertise in aquatic system operation and care, delivering reliability and confidence with every project. At Landmark Aquatic, they take pride in making their mark on the industry—one exceptional project at a time.

Yas Waterworld Unveils Refreshed Waterpark and Splash Pad

The 2024 renovation at Yas Waterworld in Abu Dhabi, led by WhiteWater, showcases a newly designed splash pad and an updated waterpark area with over 13,000 square feet of Life Floor surfacing. This revitalized water experience, equipped with vibrant Life Floor Inlays, brings a fresh aesthetic and added functionality to the park.

Splash Pad Design: Adding Inlays and Games

The vibrant splash pad uses the surface as a key thematic feature. A striking blue river courses down the pattern's center, bordered by sandy shores and thriving greenery. Bright pops of color are interspersed via Inlays from our Pond and Outdoor Exploration sets to enhance the attraction's theme and add a fun search-and-find style game. A hopscotch board designed into the Life Floor surface provides more traditional play opportunities and expands the possibilities for different play styles.

Marah Fortress: RainFortress by WhiteWater

At Marah Fortress, WhiteWater's RainFortress structure offers guests an immersive experience with desert palace-inspired theming that aligns beautifully with the local landscape. The design features geometric paneling on the platforms that resemble stained glass and strategically placed boulders to add elevated natural elements. Beneath the RainFortress, a Life Floor pattern starts at the center with a sand-colored island motif and radiates outward with teal tones rippling like waves.

A larger-than-life turtle graphic was designed into the Life Floor surface as a navigational tool, guiding guests on where to stand when the thrilling dump bucket is about to be released.

Nearby, a prominent 7-meter dolphin reflects a similar visual signal as an area where families with children can relax and engage with quieter ground sprays. Smaller standard Inlays encourage movement, such as the brightly colored fish leading away from slide exits and back to the entry point to keep the fun going all day.

DURABILITY MADE FOR THE SCORCHING HEAT

Imagine the hottest conditions on earth. Standing on the equator in peak summer UV, during a solstice, in full sunlight. Then, stay there for 750 hours straight. That’s the rigorous testing our tiles withstand as they’re certified for UV Resistance in accordance with NSF/ANSI/CAN 50. And that’s not all - they also have to pass slip-resistance and impact absorption testing after UV tests are complete.

“Life Floor brings a wow factor to the area, which helps better area utilization even in those corners where there are less features on the structure as the guests would relax on the floor and probably not even need sunbeds.”
— Lijo Jose, WhiteWater

Life Floor: Enhancing Guest Experience

According to Lijo Jose of WhiteWater, Life Floor has transformed the space by maximizing guest interaction and comfort, even in quieter corners of the waterpark where features may be fewer. The soft, inviting Life Floor surface encourages guests to relax directly on the flooring, making it an integral part of the waterpark experience.

Aquatics is for everyone regardless of age, ability, or play style. We hear from venues all the time that guests stay longer and rave about the amenities where Life Floor is installed. Caretakers feel invited to get on their kids’ level with our cushioned tiles and truly feel like they can play too.

Whether its sitting and relaxing while surrounded by small floor jets or frolicking through dueling water cannons - our surfaces promote positive experiences and people can play boundlessly as they were meant to do.

The 2024 renovation at Yas Waterworld, with Marah Fortress and the revitalized Splash Pad, celebrates the regional culture and innovative play, making it a must-visit attraction in Abu Dhabi.

To discover how Life Floor can refresh your venue and skyrocket guest experience, ask us for a complementary design rendering and get started on your project!

2023 Make a SPLASH! Grant Contest Inclusive Design Winner: Morgan's Inspiration Island

In 2023, we hosted our fourth annual Make a SPLASH! Grant Contest to award two deserving organizations in the United States an all-expenses-paid splash pad surface. One award was for a facility that exemplified inclusive design principles, and the other was need-based for a deserving community that met specific benchmark criteria.

We received some incredible applications and out of many impactful entries, one rose to the front. Today, we’re proud to showcase the Inclusive Design Award winner’s installation: Morgan’s Wonderland for Will’s Hang 10 Harbor located at Morgan’s Inspiration Island in San Antonio, Texas.

What stood out most to our team was the thoughtful and holistic approach to inclusivity. Their Ultra-Accessible™ waterpark considers all abilities so that entire families can play and be together for the whole experience from start to finish.

“Morgan’s Wonderland is a magical place for those with special needs and disabilities and those without to come together in environments that promote Ultra-Accessibility™ and inclusion. It became the world’s first Ultra-Accessible™, fully-inclusive theme park in 2010. Our entirely wheelchair-accessible park features more than 25 elements, including rides, playgrounds, and other attractions. Among the most popular are our colorful carousel, the Whirling Wonder Ferris Wheel, the Sensory Village of storefronts encouraging imaginative play, the Wonderland Express train that travels for almost a mile around our 8-acres, catch-and-release fishing lake, and playscapes with multiple types of swings, including out exceedingly popular wheelchair swings. While we recognize the exceptional qualities of these one-of-a-kind features, it is the outcome of priceless memories and a feeling of belonging that we are most proud of. Families of individuals with special needs interviewed during the creation of Morgan’s Wonderland Park shared that not only would a park be fun and exciting, but most importantly, they wanted a space to enjoy TOGETHER.

The tremendous success of nonprofit Morgan’s Wonderland led to the addition of Ultra-Accessible™ Morgan’s Inspiration Island splash park in 2017. Morgan’s Inspiration Island at Morgan’s Wonderland is the one and only Ultra-Accessible™ Splash Park located in San Antonio, Texas. In keeping with Morgan’s Wonderland’s mission of inclusion and the desire to enable everyone to play, Morgan’s Inspiration Island is like a tropical paradise with five colorful splash pads, a River Boat Adventure Ride, and revolutionary waterproof wheelchairs. Morgan’s Wonderland and Morgan’s Inspiration Island Splash Park has welcomed over 2 million guests form 122 countries. Today, Morgan’s Inspiration Island splash park continues to welcome the most guests compared to the rest of the season.””
— Brooke Kearney, Special Project Officer, Morgan's Wonderland

When asked what winning this grant would mean to their facility, Brooke Kearney who serves as the Special Project Officer at Morgan’s Wonderland said,

“Winning this grant would maintain our mission to provide a fun, clean, and beautiful environment free of physical and economic barriers that all individuals can come to an enjoy regardless of age or ability. Unfortunately, countless children and adults with special needs do not have access to facilities that enable them to enjoy outdoor recreation fully. Nonprofit Morgan’s Wonderland is changing that everyday. Since its inception in 2010, anyone with a special need has been admitted free of charge, no questions asked. Hence, the majority of funding support received from the community underwrites the cost to admit our target population of individuals with special needs and disabilities for free, leaving limited funding to support major capital improvement projects. By winning this grant, Life Floor will contribute to impacting over 100,000 individuals annually through inclusive and Ultra-Accessible™ play.”
— Brooke Kearney, Special Project Officer, Morgan's Wonderland

Our 2023 entrants chose from 6 pre-designed themes that would be tailored to fit their project scope, but we were so moved by this story that we decided to do something more. Our Design Studio created a themed beach motif with a custom Murals element, life-sized custom surfboard Inlays, and other standard Inlays from our Marine set to complement the narrative at the splash pad.

Designed and Copyrighted by Life Floor Studio.

Before: Pour-in-Place Bonded Rubber

After: Life Floor

We can’t wait to hear the stories of how this project will continue to uplift the ways people with all abilities play at Will’s Hang 10 Harbor in San Antonio, Texas. Thank you to Morgan’s Wonderland for entering our contest and for trusting us to surface your Ultra-Accessible™ splash pad!

About the Make a SPLASH! Grant Contest

The Make a SPLASH! Grant Contest is one of our team’s favorite annual events. We love giving back to our communities across the United States and seeing the difference our surfaces make. Through this grant contest, our goal is to uplift communities across the country each year with beautiful and accessible splash pad surfaces that enhance positive memories for years to come.

THE 5TH ANNUAL MAKE A SPLASH! GRANT CONTEST IS
OPEN FOR ENTRIES

Don’t miss these two opportunities to win free Life Floor surfacing for your splash pad!

Life Floor Wins 3 Leading Edge Awards from the World Waterpark Association

We’re honored to win three Leading Edge Awards from the World Waterpark Association for our work on Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas, Meryal Waterpark, and Blue Surf Bay Waterpark! These projects show the elevated design aesthetic that can be achieved with our triangle gradients.

Keep reading to learn more about each of these award-winning destinations.

Photo provided courtesy of Royal Caribbean.

ICON OF THE SEAS

Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship

Our surfaces enhance 7,961 sq ft (740 sq m) of space across four amenities onboard Icon of the Seas. Vibrant triangle gradients complement the colors on play structures and contribute to elevated theming across the vessel. This project marks the 14th Royal Caribbean destination Life Floor surfaces.

This iconic vessel features our key partners Martin Aquatic Design and Engineering and FlowRider.

Meryal Waterpark

Qatar, Doha

This record-breaking waterpark created by WhiteWater, in collaboration with Qetaifan Projects and Water Technology, Inc., boasts many firsts. A blue toned triangle gradient creates an oasis motif complementing the surrounding arid landscape. This thematic amenity provides a pleasant space for families to cool off in the hot Qatar sun.

Blue Surf Bay Waterpark

Blue Springs, Missouri, USA

Blue Surf Bay Waterpark is a stunning indoor and outdoor facility constructed as an expansion to the Blue Springs, Missouri Fieldhouse in 2024. From a year-round indoor space to seasonal outdoor offerings, this comprehensive aquatic center has something for everyone to enjoy!

This meaningful project highlights many of our partners and industry friends including Water Technology, Inc., SFS Architecture, Landmark Aquatic, LLC., McCownGordon Construction, Waterplay, NinjaCross, and Splashtacular, LLC.

Plus, congrats to our partner, WhiteWater, for their award for The Rise of Icarus at Mt. Olympus Waterpark!

MT. OLYMPUS WATERPARK

Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, USA

Mt. Olympus Waterpark immerses guests with a Greek mythology theme complete with elements like colonnades, Greek iconography, and tailored attraction names. June 2024 marked the completion of the outdoor kids’ area which boasts America’s tallest waterslide, The Rise of Icarus, designed and built by WhiteWater.

To learn how to get Life Floor’s award-winning surfaces specified and installed at your project, start a conversation with our team. We would love to collaborate with you to make your dream into a reality.

Experience at Every Scale with Jesse Muller of Perry-Becker Design

We’re excited to share an interview with Jesse Muller, ASLA, AZA, TEA of Perry-Becker Design where we talked about what storytelling means to him. Jesse currently serves as the firm’s Marketing Manager/Design Associate and has been on the team for the last 9 years. He has worked on a variety of projects from Toy Story Land at Walt Disney World Resort to the Mai-Kai Polynesian Restaurant (reopening Fall 2024).

Tell us about one of your favorite stories. It could be fiction, non-fiction, or any story. 

“Davy Crockett was, for me, a character that I latched onto right away when I was young because of the time period that he lived in, figuring his way out in the frontier, living off of the land, and I've always been a very passionate kid about nature and the environment. 

If you give me a choice between a million-dollar suite in the city, watching a sports game, or just being in the forest listening to a creek going by, I'll choose the creek every time because there's something that's special about just being in nature and having that deep connection with it.”

Was there a specific story or adventure that stands out? 

“The time period before he became governor and became involved in politics and was more of the Frontiersman living in the wilderness and helping out his neighbors and just kind of doing his own thing in his own way, has always been a really cool, fun memory for me. 

I had the (faux) raccoon skin cap, the moccasins, leather-fringe jacket, the toy rifle from Disneyland (when they used to sell toy guns). I wanted to be Davy Crockett. Everyone wanted to be Davy Crockett. I still today sometimes want to be him, but an equally impactful story that stands out, is the one in which we use landscape architecture in the themed entertainment industry, to create environments for people to go into and feel like THEY are Davy Crockett.”

Polynesian Resort water feature, photo provided by Jesse Muller

What would you consider to be the greatest success in a themed space? What would make a themed space successful, in your opinion, with storytelling?

“If we're strictly talking about themed experiences and thematic design, it’s giving people the chance to suspend their beliefs, venture into another galaxy or another world, be immersed in that experience, follow along with the characters that they love, feel like they're part of a story, and then come back and appreciate all the exciting things that they got to do that day. We sometimes get to go and visit the parks and see people's reactions when a new attraction opens. 

For me, it’s sitting on a bench watching families excitedly run by. Most of the work that we do is in the background. If you think about landscape architecture, it's the paving that you're walking on, it's the curbs, it's the railing that you're holding on to when you're going up the stairs, it's all the plants everywhere around you. It's the way that when it rains, it drains to a drain, it doesn't flood. All of those things are so ancillary that they’re not really the focus of someone's attention. If they're having fun at an attraction or if they're having fun in a space, part of the reason is because of the work that we've done, and the environment they're stepping into.”

ZooTampa Stingray Shores - Stairs into Pool, photo provided by Jesse Muller

Disney's Animal Kingdom Kangaroo Barrier, photo provided by Jesse Muller

“I would give a second example of a zoological related scenario where, if you design a habitat correctly and successfully, you're giving guests the ability to make an impactful connection with wildlife that leads them towards feeling this sense of stewardship, with belonging and responsibility to protect wildlife. What a lot of zoos are trying to do with all their new exhibits they're developing is create immersive experiences that are not only beautiful and fun to engage with and be surrounded by, but also something that gives you a feeling of connection and encourages citizen science. Then, when these guests go home, they're able to then still connect with what they saw that day, look up virtual cams or be part of an online game or whatever it is, there are ways they can participate then act towards conservation - that's a huge success for us. 

Another person that we admire from a storytelling perspective is Steve Irwin. The stories that he told when he was filming documentaries, and the passion in his voice when he explained things or he saw something scurry by and he’d go run after it. It didn’t matter how many times he got bit, he got people to feel the same way that he did about what he saw through storytelling.”

“The most impactful stories for me are stories that make you think differently. ”
— Jesse Muller

Toy Story Land, photo provided by Jesse Muller

Toy Story Land, photo provided by Jesse Muller

Shade at Toy Story Land Queue, photo provided by Jesse Muller

Can you talk about a project that's centered around a strong story and what made that story come to life? 

“A recent project we worked on was Toy Story Land at Hollywood Studios. The story there is that you're in Andy's backyard, and all the toys are life size - so they're huge, and you’re the size of an ant, and you're walking through all these places. And the design team figured out how to design benches that are made up of popsicle sticks or dominoes. Or shade structures that are things that Andy would have found around the house that he just stuck in the ground in the yard to play and become one with his own imagination. The story was reinforced by all of the props that are being developed by Disney and put out into that space. We were able to help navigate how the guests are moving through that space and where they're looking first and where they're looking second, and controlling those views so it doesn't feel overwhelming.

You can't just put up a pergola or a trellis and call it a day. You have to make it feel like it fits into the rest of the space. For shade, gameboards were used to make it look like Andy had constructed something for his toy set, and he just kind of put it in the backyard. It's now actually doubling as shade structures for the guests, so they're not always in the sun. We had to go through the process of using real reference imagery from the movies, references from actual toys that got developed (yes we played with blocks at work), and look at how we can manipulate these things so they fit in the story. It can’t detract from what's already there. Like the sign that says restrooms is made out of toy blocks. Each letter is kind of askew and placed on top of the building to let you know this is where the restrooms are. It's not just going to say ‘restrooms’' - it's going to do it in a fun way. 

Those are the details that we fixate on, that we try to include in everything that we do, even when it's a resort  or a multi-family project or if it's a pool amenity for a housing complex, we're thinking on the same level of detail like that. Like which way do the pavers run so that when you drive over them, when you come home, you feel a difference in the drive, the bumpiness of the drive, and it lets you know that you've arrived at home. Not everybody picks up on that, but the people that do pick up on it appreciate that, and then they can tell that story to someone else and maybe open up their eyes to something that they didn't notice before.”

Mai-Kai Polynesian Restaurant, Site Plan Rendering provided by Jesse Muller

“We're working on a project right now down in Fort Lauderdale, the Mai-Kai Polynesian Restaurant, which is a very historic restaurant down there. When you enter that site, you used to drive over these wood timbers that would rumble, they would rattle a little bit because they weren't fully attached to the ground. So, the feeling of rumbling underneath your car not only gave the driver an experience, but the people just adjacent to the road inside the bar could hear the rumbling. It kind of sounds like thunder. And then on the windows, there's this water effect where it looks like rain, so they're having an experience of this thunderstorm. You're having experience of driving over something that puts you in a place and sets the tone for what you're about to experience. Those kinds of details are what we try to incorporate into all stories that we tell through landscape architecture in any way that we can. From shade structures to a different type of paving - whatever it is - that's the kind of mentality that we're always trying to include in all of our projects.”

What was a clever detail or surprise that your team put together for a project?

“Another thing I'm passionate about is Polynesian culture. If you want to talk about storytelling, go to the Polynesian islands, because everything they do is based on storytelling.”

Polynesian symbols used at Mai-Kai Polynesian Restaurant, provided by Jesse Muller

“For example, the Mai-Kai restaurant I just mentioned down in Fort Lauderdale. On the paving outside the main entrance, we are going to feature these three symbols. These Polynesian symbols are going to be sandblasted into the concrete so they're not right in your face. They're a secondary focal point. Those three symbols represent different aspects of the storytelling process for the Polynesian cultures.”

“One of them is Moana, the word represents ocean. That symbol represents harmony with nature. And there's Koru, which is a spiral, which represents regrowth and rebirth and rejuvenation. And then there's the fishhook, which is Hei Matau, which represents safe passage usually over water, but it's safe passage regardless of where you're going. Those three symbols connect with the project as people are walking up to the building, so it's encouraging people to safely travel from where they were to where they're going. 

This was a dilapidated building that closed in 2020 because the roof caved in. It's from the 1950s so it's old and falling apart, but this project is bringing it back to life of what it used to be. When I presented those three things at a Tiki convention last year, everybody went crazy because they were picking up on those subtleties that we included, and we did that intentionally, because we want the details to speak to the story, but not in an in-your-face kind of a way. To be honest with you, finding those symbols, realizing how they connect to the project, putting them in the ground so people can walk over them and see them and appreciate them was one of the best parts of that project.”

How do you think about surfacing in terms of incorporating the story into the surface?

The floor of a tropical rainforest is usually made up of decomposed natural earth and rotted wood; natural materials decomposing and breaking down. The World Famous San Diego Zoo demonstrates this exceptionally well when you're viewing the Orangutans and suddenly you walk onto this softer, spongy material you can feel under your feet. It feels great when you’ve walking around all day and you have a little break to rest. It puts you in that story that “I’m actually walking through a forest and I can feel it”. It's not always about what you're seeing, but it's what you're hearing, it's what you're smelling, and it's what you're feeling with your hands and your feet. Engaging the senses more into the materials that we're touching every day, I think would be a really good way to enhance storytelling in ways that it hasn't really been in the past. 

You don't need guests to specifically identify, ‘hey, I feel better now because of A, B and C.’ Just to have them think, “I'm really enjoying this space” and then have them share with others who might experience it completely differently. Everyone's ultimately experiencing something good in a different way and that's an important story to tell right there. It's the same story, but we're all seeing or feeling it in different ways. 

It doesn't matter what the subject matter is, if it's Davy Crockett or if it's Toy Story Land, if we're all able to appreciate the slowdown and not be thinking about ‘I have to go home later and do laundry,’ then you know it's a good experience for everyone. We aim to encourage more than just adding fun materials for their cool factor. While they enhance the visual appeal and support the story from an aesthetic standpoint, there's a deeper purpose. The goal is to create spaces that make people feel good when they experience what you've designed.”

Jesse Muller at Arizona Sonora Desert Museum feeding a porcupine, photo provided by Jesse Muller

We would love to extend a sincere thank you to Jesse Muller for sharing his experiences with us. It’s been an absolute joy to hear about the ways in which themed entertainment is tackled from a landscape architecture perspective and the unique ideas the Perry-Becker firm creates!

Perry-Becker Design is a Planning, Landscape Architecture, and Thematic Design firm located in Orlando, Florida. Their portfolio includes a breadth of work across the industries of hospitality and resort.