Rendering of the Els for Autism project.
Life Floor's 2025 Make a SPLASH! Inclusive Design Award Winner is creating an autism-friendly splash pad where individuals with autism and their families can experience the joy of water play on their own terms.
A Place Where Everyone Belongs
For many families, a simple trip to the pool or splash pad is anything but simple. Loud noises, crowded spaces, unfamiliar environments, and concerns about water safety can make what should be an enjoyable outing feel overwhelming.
At Els for Autism in Jupiter, Florida, a new vision for inclusive recreation is taking shape, one where individuals with autism and related developmental disabilities can experience the physical, emotional, and social benefits of play in an environment thoughtfully designed around their needs.
As the recipient of Life Floor's 2025 Make a SPLASH! Inclusive Design Award, Els for Autism is bringing that vision one step closer to reality through the development of a sensory-friendly splash pad at its new Specialized Autism Friendly Recreation Complex, part of The Els Center of Excellence® campus.
The project represents more than an investment in aquatic recreation. It's an opportunity to rethink what inclusion looks like, remove barriers to participation, and create a place where families can enjoy meaningful experiences together.
““Our hope is that people feel they belong here and want to come back,” the Els for Autism team shared. “We also want the complex to show the broader community how much the environment matters to someone’s ability to participate.””
Designing a New Standard for Autism-Friendly Recreation
Creating truly inclusive recreational spaces begins long before construction. It starts with understanding the individuals who will use them.
For individuals with autism, traditional recreation facilities can present challenges that aren't always immediately visible. Bright lighting, echoing sounds, crowded environments, and unpredictable layouts can create sensory discomfort. Even facilities designed to welcome everyone may not adequately accommodate the needs of autistic individuals.
Els for Autism is approaching these challenges differently.
Its new Specialized Autism Friendly Recreation Complex is being developed using ASPECTSS™ design principles, a research-based architectural framework that considers sensory experiences, spatial organization, transitions, acoustics, and safety.
The complex will incorporate clear wayfinding, sensory escape spaces, specialized programming, and trained staff who understand the needs of autistic individuals. Together, these elements are intended to make recreation more approachable, comfortable, and enjoyable for participants and their families.
The project is also working toward becoming the first sports and recreation facility in the United States to be considered ASPECTSS™ Compliant.
For Els for Autism, the goal extends beyond creating an accessible building. It's about developing an environment where individuals can confidently participate, build skills, establish routines, and connect with others.
““We want families to arrive knowing their needs have been considered,” the team explained. “That gives participants more room to enjoy themselves and helps parents feel more at ease.””
Creating an Autism-Friendly Splash Pad Where Play Happens at Every Pace
At the heart of the new aquatic experience is a splash pad designed to accommodate a wide range of sensory preferences, comfort levels, and abilities.
For some individuals with autism, entering a traditional swimming pool can feel intimidating. A splash pad provides an alternative introduction to aquatic environments, allowing participants to explore water without the expectation of swimming or entering a pool.
The idea was championed by Els for Autism co-founder Liezl Els, who envisioned a place where families could enjoy water play together while allowing each individual to participate at their own pace.
Splash Pad Design for Make a SPLASH! Inclusive Design Winner
Some guests may gravitate toward gentle sprays, while others may seek more active water features. Some may simply prefer to watch before deciding to participate.
Each of those experiences is equally valuable.
““People have different preferences around water, so the planned features offer a range of experiences,” the team shared. “There is no expectation that everyone will use the space in the same way.””
Every aspect of the splash pad has been considered through this lens, from the placement and spacing of water features to open sightlines, shading, flooring design, and color selection.
The splash pad is thoughtfully divided into three distinct zones, creating a natural progression from gentle sprays at the front to more adventurous water features toward the back. To help guide guests through the space, the Life Floor Studio team developed a color-coded design that transitions from lighter to darker shades, visually distinguishing each zone. Large, colorful bubbles highlight the different spray features, while white bubbles along the perimeter create designated areas outside the spray zones where guests can comfortably watch, observe, and enjoy the experience without getting wet.
By coordinating the flooring's visual cues with the water features, these intentional design elements create a welcoming, intuitive environment that helps guests navigate the space with confidence while encouraging exploration, movement, and play at their own pace.
Building Water Confidence Through Positive Experiences
Beyond recreation, the splash pad will play an important role in supporting the commitment of Els for Autism to aquatic safety and drowning prevention.
Children with autism face an increased risk of drowning, making water safety education and swimming instruction especially important. For individuals who may feel uncomfortable around water, however, traditional swim instruction can present additional challenges.
The new splash pad will offer a supportive first step.
By allowing participants to become familiar with water through positive, self-directed experiences, the space can help make future participation in swimming lessons feel less unfamiliar.
This introduction will complement the Ernie Els #GameON Autism® Aquatics program, which provides water safety education and swimming instruction focused on drowning prevention.
While splash pad play does not replace formal swimming instruction, it creates another opportunity to develop comfort around aquatic environments and encourage lifelong participation.
From Vision to Reality: A Recreation Complex Taking Shape
Photo of Construction Site for Els for Autism
With its $20 million capital campaign complete and construction underway, Els for Autism is seeing years of planning and community support become a tangible space.
Each new milestone brings the organization closer to welcoming the individuals and families who will benefit from the completed facility.
For the Els for Autism team, watching the foundations take shape, walls rise, and windows go in has been especially meaningful. The addition of splash pad infrastructure and excavation for the swimming pool have offered exciting glimpses of the recreational opportunities ahead.
“With every piece of foundation that is poured, every wall that goes up, and every window that goes in, we are one step closer to providing a transformative, life-saving space for families. ”
Beyond the construction milestones, the greatest excitement comes from imagining the moments that will unfold once the doors open.
A participant discovering a favorite water feature. Someone feeling comfortable enough to try something new. Families enjoying time together without the stress of navigating an environment that wasn't designed for their needs. These are the experiences that make the project meaningful.
For Shelly Hedge, whose adult son participates in Els for Autism programming, the new facility represents an opportunity for recreation and aquatic education to become part of his everyday routine.
“As a mom, I’m so excited that my adult son will have access to the splash pad and swim instruction during his Adult Day Training program hours. Knowing he’ll have opportunities to enjoy water play and learn swimming skills as part of his day means so much to our family.”
Inspiring the Future of Inclusive Aquatic Design
While the new Recreation Complex will directly benefit individuals and families served by Els for Autism, its potential impact reaches far beyond Jupiter, Florida.
The organization hopes the project will inspire aquatic designers, recreation providers, municipalities, and communities nationwide to reconsider what meaningful inclusion looks like.
True inclusion requires more than meeting accessibility standards. It means understanding the sensory, physical, communication, and support needs of the people using a space—and incorporating those considerations from the beginning.
“We hope this project demonstrates that truly inclusive aquatic environments require intentional, evidence-based design from the start,” the Els for Autism team explained”
By prioritizing choice, comfort, safety, and opportunities for connection, the Recreation Complex offers a model for how aquatic environments can better serve individuals with diverse needs.
The organization's message to others considering similar projects is simple: Start by listening.
Ask individuals and families what makes an aquatic experience enjoyable, what challenges they encounter, and what would help them participate more comfortably. Then use those insights to guide decisions about the facility, its programming, and its design.
For Life Floor, the Els for Autism project is an inspiring example of what becomes possible when organizations share a commitment to creating spaces where everyone has an opportunity to belong.
Could Your Community Be the Next to Make a SPLASH?
Every community has a story worth telling, and every individual deserves a place to experience the joy of aquatic play.
Through Life Floor's annual Make a SPLASH! Grant Contest, we partner with communities and nonprofit organizations across the United States to transform aquatic spaces with beautiful, cushioned, slip-resistant safety surfacing.
The 2026 contest will award two grants:
Inclusive Design Award: Recognizing facilities committed to creating accessible and inclusive aquatic environments for people of all ages and abilities.
Need-Based Award: Supporting communities demonstrating financial need and a commitment to improving aquatic recreation.
Just as Els for Autism is redefining what an inclusive aquatic experience can look like, your community could be next.
Applications for the 2026 Make a SPLASH! Grant Contest closes November 14, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. CST.
Whether you're reimagining an existing splash pad or developing an inclusive aquatic space, we want to hear your vision. Together, we can create more opportunities for safe, accessible, and joyful aquatic play—one community at a time.
About Els for Autism
Els for Autism is devoted to helping children and adults with autism and their families have a better life. Our purpose is to help people with autism of all abilities reach their fullest potential and live meaningful, fulfilling lives, while supporting the caregivers who walk alongside them. Els for Autism was established in 2009 by World Golf Hall of Famer and four-time Major Champion Ernie Els, his wife Liezl, and publisher Marvin R. Shanken. The Els’ son, Ben, is impacted by autism, and their personal journey inspired a lifelong commitment to creating better outcomes and brighter futures for individuals with autism. Today, Els for Autism provides evidence-based programs and services across the lifespan and has reached families and professionals in 40 countries worldwide.
Learn more at www.elsforautism.org.