best guest experience

Life Floor's Top 13 projects of 2023

2023 was filled with incredible projects ranging in complexity, size, and theme. Collaboration and excellence from some of our top partners, installers, and customers made all of these facilities possible. To celebrate 2023 as we enter into our 13th year in business, we’ve chosen to highlight these 13 installations that stood out among the hundreds of projects installed across the year.

MOST UNIQUE GEOMETRIC DESIGN

Northcote Aquatic and Recreation Centre

Location: Northcote, Victoria, Australia
Install Date: August 2023
Area: 3,281 sq ft (355 m²)
Main Colors: Seafoam, Limelight, Lilypad, Sandbar
Texture: Ripple 2.0
Architect: Warren and Mahoney Architects
Partner: Waterplay
Installer: Mauer Construction Tiling

With a unique palette and layout of colored bands, the creative approach for the flooring design of this project was a highlight for our team.

FIRST AQUAFORMS12 SPLASH PAD

Island Waterpark at Showboat Resort

Location: Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA
Install Date: June 2023
Area: 13,308 sq ft (1,236 m²)
Main Colors: Gobi, Sandstone, Aviator, Bluebird, Sunshine
Texture: Ripple 2.0
Designers: WhiteWater + Martin Aquatic Design and Engineering
Installer: Inside Edge Safety Surfaces

Island Waterpark at Showboat Resort received a 2023 Leading Edge Award from WWA and was the host facility for WhiteWater’s new AquaForms12 structure which won the 2023 IAAPA Brass Ring Award for Best New Product under $2 Million.

MOST ACCESSIBLE AQUATIC AMENITIES

Camp Barnabas

Location: Purdy, Missouri, USA
Install Date: June 2023
Area: 2,983 sq ft (277 m²) across 3 areas
Main Colors: Ocean, Kingfisher (discontinued), Iceberg, Turquoise, Aqua, Ivory, Heron, Evergreen, Olive, and Limelight
Texture: Ripple 2.0
Specifier: Sunbelt Pools
Designer: Life Floor Studio
Installer: Baynum Solutions
Photo Credit: Splashtacular, LLC.

Given the facility’s mission, Camp Barnabas stands out as a project designed to create even more accessible aquatics for all guests. This facility received a 2023 Leading Edge Award from WWA.

best interactive theming

LEGOLAND Discovery Center Dallas/Fort Worth, Pirate Beach

Location: Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas, USA
Install Date: June 2023
Area: 3,900 sq ft (363 m²)
Main Colors: Bluebird, Aviator, Aqua, Sandbar
Texture: Ripple 2.0
Designer: Life Floor Studio
Installer: Inside Edge Safety Surfaces

With islands, LEGO features, and themed structures on site, this splash pad really stood out for its pirate theming.

Most Uniquely Themed Facility

Studio City Water Park

Location: Estrada do Istmo, Cotai, Macau, China
Install Date: April 2023
Area: 5,479 sq ft (509 m²)
Main Colors: Gobi, Mojave, Sandbar, Tiki
Texture: Ripple 2.0
Designer: WhiteWater and WTI

This flowing curve design is custom cut from Life Floor tiles and provides subtle visual paths leading from one attraction to the next. These custom elements perfectly tailor to Studio City’s space travel theme. The combination of WTI's design and engineering, WhiteWater’s industry-leading features, and the comfort, safety, and durability of Life Floor’s surfacing creates a world-class indoor facility at the Studio City Water Park.

Studio City Water Park received a 2023 Leading Edge Award from WWA and was named a 2023 Dream Design by Aquatics International.

MOST PLAY VALUE OPPORTUNITIES

Forest Park Aquatic Center

Location: Forest Park, Illinois, USA
Install Date: January 2023
Area: 3,268 sq ft (304 m²)
Main Colors: Aviator, Pomegranate, Goldfish, Sunshine, Limelight, Ocean, Sandbar
Texture: Ripple 2.0
Designer: Hitchcock Design Group (Naperville)
Drains: Daldorado
Installer: Inside Edge Safety Surfaces
Photography Credit: The Park District of Forest Park and Bridget Deatrick with Hitchcock Design Group

Designed as a giant game board, Forest Park Aquatic Center brought play value to a large scale at their splash pad.

BEST ZERO-DEPTH ENTRY POOL THEME

Camp Margaritaville, Northgate Property

Location: Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, USA
Install Date: June 2023
Area: 3,900 sq ft (363 m²)
Main Colors: Turquoise, Seafoam, Aqua, Sandstone, Gobi
Texture: Ripple 2.0
Designer: Life Floor Studio
Installer: Inside Edge Safety Surfaces
Partner: Daldorado Drains
Fixture Manufacturer and Photo Credit: InterActive Play

With a beach-themed triangle gradient and integrated Daldorado DALlux drains, Camp Margaritaville brought the tropics to this zero-depth entry pool.

FIRST LIFE FLOOR PROJECT IN CROATIA

Maistra Rovinj Croatia Resort

Location: Rovinj, Croatia
Install Date: May 2023
Area: 1,034 sq ft (96 m²)
Main Colors: Ocean, Bluebird, Aqua
Texture: Ripple 2.0
Designer: Life Floor Studio
Installer: Amica

Bright diagonals of blue really make this splash pad pop at our first installation in Croatia.

NEWEST CARNIVAL CRUISE SHIP

Carnival Jubilee Waterworks

Location: Carnival Cruise Ship
Install Date: December 2023
Area: 5,324 ft² (495 m²)
Main Colors: Ocean, Aviator, Iceberg
Texture: Ripple 2.0
Designer: WhiteWater + Carnival Cruise Line
Installer: FMC Design

Life Floor surfaces every ship in the Carnival Fleet so the installation on Jubilee in several areas, including Waterworks shown above, is exciting to see.

2022 MAKE A SPLASH! GRANT CONTEST WINNER

Rotary Splash Island at Sammy Haggard Park

Location: Danielsville, Georgia, USA
Install Date: March 2023
Area: 2,055 sq ft (191 m²)
Main Colors: Ocean, Bluebird, Aviator, Turquoise, Seafoam
Texture: Ripple 2.0
Designer: Life Floor Studio
Installer: Inside Edge Safety Surfaces

In 2022, we co-hosted our third annual Make a SPLASH! Grant Contest with Inside Edge Safety Surfaces to award a municipality or non-profit organization in the United States with an all-expenses-paid splash pad surface. Our intent with this contest is to uplift communities across the country each year with beautiful splash pad surfacing designs that add increased safety for residents. Our 2022 winner, Rotary Splash Island at Sammy Haggard Park, was installed in March 2023.

FACILITY MOST FULLY SURFACED WITH LIFE FLOOR

Rapid River Lodge

Location: Baxter, Minnesota, USA
Install Date: January 2023
Area: 9,408 sq ft (874 m²)
Main Colors: Gobi, Sandstone, Sandbar, Iceberg, Pomegranate, Lilypad, Iris, Sepia
Texture: Ripple 2.0
Designer: Waterplay
Partner: Waterplay
Installer: Fischer Brothers, LLC

With Life Floor surfacing the pool deck, stairs, zero-depth entry, and pool coping, almost all of Rapid River Lodge is covered with our tiles! We always love to see such a comprehensive safety surface approach.

FIRST LIFE FLOOR PROJECT IN EGYPT

Marassi Water World

Location: El Dabaa, Matrouh Governorate, Egypt
Install Date: May 2023
Area: 6,426 sq ft (597 m²)
Main Colors: Lilypad, Limelight, Sandbar, Porcelain, Iceberg, Aviator, and Bluebird
Texture: Ripple 2.0
Designer: WhiteWater
Installer: Raymond Sport, LLC

Island and beach theming designed by WhiteWater added an immersive backdrop to their interactive AquaPlay structure on this expansive splash pad.

MOST CREATIVE USE OF PIXEL THEMING IN A DESIGN

Imperial Meadows Park

Location: Coalhurst, Alberta, Canada
Install Date: May 2023
Area: 3,367 sq ft (313 m²)
Main Colors: Evergreen, Lilypad, Ocean, Turquoise, Iceberg, Bluebird, Iris, Platypus, Goldfish, Ivory, Sunshine Transition Strips
Texture: Ripple 2.0
Designer: Life Floor Studio
Installer: Prairie Surfaces

A vibrant color palette of square tiles brought a bright design to this splash pad in Canada.

Thank you to all of our partners and customers for making these projects possible. We look forward to all of the unique installations to come in 2024!

,

Life Floor's 2024 Project Highlights

,

Life Floor announced a new product line called Murals and a selection of new projects coming soon in 2024 at an IAAPA Expo press conference in November 2023. Continue reading for a recap of the event.

UPCOMING PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS FOR 2024

Photo Credit: Carnival Cruise Line

Carnival Jubilee - Carnival Cruise Line

Jubilee will feature Life Floor onboard the Waterworks amenity with large intersecting circle designs. This project will continue Life Floor’s installation on each Carnival vessel.

Mt. Olympus Waterpark - Wisconsin, USA

In partnership with WhiteWater, Mt. Olympus Waterpark will feature a triangle gradient design with subtle zoning elements. Spray fixtures are positioned in the beach-tone areas while slides exit near the darker teal-tone areas. This theming will complement the venue’s new aesthetic, creating a cohesive design throughout.

Camp Fimfo - New York, USA

Camp Fimfo in New York will feature a 3-color Surf Theme across their activity zone. This project marks the next installment of Life Floor across Northgate Resort properties.

Photo Credit: WhiteWater

Meryal Waterpark - Qatar

Meryal Waterpark in Qatar takes zoning aquatic amenities to new heights. In partnership with WhiteWater, a splash play area is surfaced with Life Floor and zoned into three distinct areas. Two main areas with water features are divided by a distinct guided pathway running through the space. Walkways and overspray areas will be composed of tans and play areas are surfaced with blue tones.

V3 Center - Minnesota, USA

The V3 Center in Minneapolis, MN “is designed to be a beacon of hope as well as a focal point bridging the Northside to Downtown. Most importantly, the building will serve as a hub for the community to gather and grow together.” This project will transform the landscape of competitive swim in the Twin Cities metro area.

2023 Make a SPLASH! Grant Winner, Inclusive Design Award

For the fourth year, Life Floor and Inside Edge Safety Surfaces have partnered to provide free splash pad surfacing to deserving communities. The winner of the 2023 Make a SPLASH! Inclusive Design Grant Award is Morgan’s Wonderland in San Antonio, TX, USA. Life Floor will be installed at Will’s Hang 10 Harbor attraction in Spring 2024.

2023 Make a SPLASH! Grant Winner, Need-Based Award

With the expansion of the Make a SPLASH! Grant Contest, two awards were given out for the first time ever. The winner of the Need-Based Grant Award is John Anderson Splash Pad in Grandview, MO, USA. Life Floor will be installed at this location in Spring 2024.

New Product: Murals

As the aquatics industry continues to shift towards highly thematic surface design, Life Floor is thrilled to announce its newest product release: Murals.

With this new line of tiles, designs and patterns that were once too complex to install as aquatic safety surfacing are now a reality. Murals empower brands that dream of creating iconic, highly immersive, themed aquatic environments from the ground up. This innovative flooring tile product tailors custom design with highly intricate details that delight guests of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds. In addition to their limitless design potential, Murals utilize Life Floor’s industry-leading proprietary safety surfacing for positive guest experiences.

Questions? Connect with Life Floor Experts

Gwen
Schlotte

VP, Specification +
Strategic
Partnerships

Holden
Bigler-Johnson

Regional Account Executive, West Coast, AK, and HI

Lindsay
Fetzer

Strategic + Cruise Line Sales, Midwest Account Executive

MaryAnn
Eifert

Regional Account Executive,
East Coast

,

Introducing Murals: Revolutionizing Iconic Design in Aquatics

,

Life Floor creates engaging aquatic experiences through imaginative design and standardized safety surfacing. Innovation is core to the company as its tiles shape highly immersive and thematic vacation destinations while pushing the limits of design.

Since Life Floor’s inception in 2011, intentionally designed surfacing has been rapidly adopted a feature in aquatic facilities worldwide. Blank slabs of concrete as well as other traditionally unsafe flooring options are losing favor as safety standards recommend materials with slip-resistance and cushioning for aquatic play.

Life Floor already offers a high degree of design capabilities such as logos, surfacing play features, and unique concepts that engage guests. As a result, innumerable stories demonstrate how beautiful design draws visitors in while safety surfaces lengthen guest stays. Together these benefits create accessible and inclusive spaces, while encouraging repeat visits and popularizing facilities.

Immersive Theming

Integrated Games

Imaginative Inlays

Hopping Activities

Elegant Designs

Guided Pathways

As the aquatic industry continues to shift towards highly thematic surface design, Life Floor is thrilled to announce its newest product release: Murals.

With this new line of tiles, designs and patterns that were once too complex to install as aquatic safety surfacing are now a reality. Murals empower brands that dream of creating iconic, highly immersive, themed aquatic environments from the ground up. This innovative flooring tile product tailors custom design with highly intricate details that delight guests of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds. In addition to their limitless design potential, Murals utilize Life Floor’s industry-leading proprietary safety surfacing for positive guest experiences. 

CURATING ICONIC DESTINATIONS

Each Mural tile comes custom cut and pre-assembled as a 24”x24” square, maintaining the integrity of the graphics while streamlining installation. 

Surfaces cover between 50-90% of any aquatic facility. Reimagining the floor as a detailed design feature transforms that canvas into an engaging, playful, and imaginative space. Mural tiles can be combined with our normal products or can be selected to comprise an entire installation.

MODULAR DESIGN

Just like Life Floor’s standard products, every color seen on a Mural is a different piece of tile. Nothing is ever painted, coated, or applied to create the custom imagery.

Modular tiles facilitate easy installation, eliminating the need to piece together small custom cut shapes on site. They also streamline replacement, if ever needed. Since every tile comes as a 24” square, operators won’t ever need to deal with tiny custom parts and pieces. Attic stock Murals can be pre-ordered when desired.

HAND-CRAFTED QUALITY

All Murals have precision cut pieces that are then assembled and quality checked by human hands. Each tile receives intensive care to ensure exact design replication that meets each customer’s unique brand standards.

Once assembled, tiles are shipped to the project site and Certified Installers meticulously install the project according to specification.

The launch of Murals extends Life Floor’s vibrant history by improving aquatic environments for all people. Together with their limitless design potential, the team is excited to witness how this new product transforms facilities worldwide.

Collaborate with the Life Floor Studio to bring your next imaginative project to life.

No other flooring product can accomplish this level of custom design while adhering to the rigorous safety standards that improve guest experience and immersion at aquatic facilities.

In addition to the limitless design potential, Murals utilize Life Floor's industry-leading proprietary safety technology that features slip-resistance, cushioning, and more for positive guest experiences. 

Explore Life Floor’s Certifications

Designers, architects, and creatives of all kinds are invited to test the limits of imagination.

Questions? Connect with Life Floor Experts

Gwen
Ruehle

VP, Specification +
Strategic
Partnerships

Holden
Bigler-Johnson

Regional Account Executive, West Coast, AK, and HI

Lindsay
Fetzer

Strategic + Cruise Line Sales, Midwest Account Executive

MaryAnn
Eifert

Regional Account Executive,
East Coast

, ,

2022 MAKE A SPLASH! GRANT CONTEST WINNER'S INSTALLATION: Rotary Splash Island at Sammy Haggard Park

, ,

In 2022, we co-hosted our third annual Make a SPLASH! Grant Contest with Inside Edge Safety Surfaces to award a municipality or non-profit organization in the United States with an all-expenses-paid splash pad surface. Our intent with this contest is to uplift communities across the country each year with beautiful splash pad surfacing designs that add increased safety for residents.

We received a record number of submissions and there were many deserving entries, but one of the applications we received stood out:

“‘Is there any place in the county that I can take my toddler to allow them to be comfortable in the water?’ is a frequent question posed to the Chamber of Commerce, Recreation Department, and anyone working with young children. This rural county in northeast Georgia has no public pools, splash pads, or similar venues closer than 30 – 60 minutes of its residents. However, water safety and early experiences are the focus of pediatrician’s guidance and health department PSAs due to statistics about children drowning. Enter the members of the county’s Rotary Club in 2020 who determined the need for a safe, affordable venue to meet the needs of young families and the large number of grandparents who are rearing grandchildren. The Rotary Club partnered with the Madison County Recreation Department to fund the construction of a splash pad at Sammy Haggard Park. Over an 18-month period, the entities worked together on location, design, color scheme to blend with the colors used internationally by Rotary Clubs. Concurrently, the Rotary Club met their goal of $125,000 to bring their dream to reality at the grand opening Memorial Day weekend 2021.

Folks were ecstatic, use far exceeded expectations, and then reality set in. OOPS! The concrete surface gets hot, sunscreen washes off and makes the surface slick, and the rough surface and toddlers’ toes are not compatible. Ensuring the facility is properly sanitized is hampered by the concrete surface’s porosity. It has become clear that specifications were short-sighted when planning an achievable funding campaign for a small group that immediately faced “Covid shutdowns.” The Recreation Department manages the facility well, having developed sanitizing schedules, put in temporary surfaces for walkways to eliminate slips from sunscreen overspray, and ensuring preventive maintenance is prioritized. Revenue loss for the department during the Covid shutdown and, now, the increase in price for supplies and materials required to run the department and rebuild programs eliminates budgeting for a surface for the splash pad in the next several years. A Life Floor surface will resolve the concerns of parents and caregivers who find flip-flops and toddlers playing on a wet surface creates unnecessary bruises and scrapes. A proper surface will, for years to come, preserve the efforts of the Rotary Club and their many donors to provide a much needed and welcomed venue. Without this grant, only stop-gap measures can be used. That reality will undoubtedly result in the deterioration of this one-of-a kind facility at our Department. Our research had concluded that Life Floor met our needs. This grant for the proper surface will ensure our children have the safest and best venue possible.”

- Shelley Parham, Madison County Recreation Director

Before: Rotary Splash Island at Sammy Haggard Park, Concrete Substrate

After: Rotary Splash Island at Sammy Haggard Park, Life Floor Safety Surfacing

This entry resonated with members of the Life Floor and Inside Edge Safety Surfaces teams who reviewed entries and collaboratively chose this facility as the winner.

Our 2022 Grant Contest entrants chose from 6 unique pre-designed themes that would be custom fit to their project scope. Madison County chose the Under The Sea option which features a beautiful triangle gradient Pattern in our Lagoon Theme. Sea Life and Marine Inlays can be seen across the splash pad in bright contrasting colors such as Limelight, Sunshine, Goldfish, Platypus, and Aqua.

The Make a SPLASH! Grant Contest’s co-host as well as Life Floor’s North American Preferred Installation Partner, Inside Edge Safety Surfaces, completed installation of the new surface in March of 2023. The crew worked with a high degree of professionalism and expertise to create a beautiful final result.

We hope this new safety surface will uplift and transform the way kids play at Rotary Splash Island in Danielsville, Georgia. We can't wait to hear the stories of how this installation will continue to benefit the community for years to come!

We’re thankful for the opportunity to give this deserving community a new Life Floor safety surface and hope for many seasons of fun to come! Thank you to Inside Edge Safety Surfaces for co-hosting this contest with us and for the expert installation.

THE 4TH ANNUAL MAKE A SPLASH! GRANT CONTEST

The next contest will go live on August 30th. Sign up for notifications so you don’t miss this short entry period and enter for a chance to win an all-expenses paid Life Floor surface for your splash pad.

,

LIFE FLOOR NAMED 2023 DREAM DESIGN SUPPLIER BY AQUATICS INTERNATIONAL

,

We're honored to be named as the Floor Covering Supplier by Aquatics International for three Dream Design Award-winning waterparks in 2023. These three facilities use our surfacing in distinctly different ways to serve their guests across the world. Congratulations to these aquatic centers and to all of our partners who collaborated to bring them to life!

2023 DREAM DESIGNS

Studio City Waterpark

Macau, China

The iconic Studio City Water Park is the largest aquatic attraction in Macau. It expanded in 2022 to feature an indoor area with over 5,000 sq ft of Life Floor under WhiteWater’s AquaPlay structure and around spray features. WTI and WhiteWater collaborated closely with Melco Development and Construction Group to create the vision for this amenity with a unique modern interpretation of Art Deco. This waterpark expansion is housed within an iconic new structure designed by Zaha Hadid Architects.

University of Nebraska Medical Center Munroe-Meyer Institute

Omaha, Nebraska, United States

The University of Nebraska Medical Center Munroe-Meyer Institute chose Life Floor for their aquatic center due to its slip-resistance, cushioning, and inherent non-snagging properties for clothing. These key features allow for better patient experience in a more sensory-friendly environment. The surface design created by our in-house Studio team features a three-color triangle gradient Pattern with our fully integrated depth markers and no-diving symbols. Thank you to Altus Architectural Studios and JEO Consulting Group for your collaboration.

Margaritaville Beach Resort Fins Up Waterpark

Nassau, The Bahamas

The Margaritaville Beach Resort Fins Up Waterpark was designed in a Seashore Theme with Marine Inlays placed throughout the amenity beneath the WhiteWater play structure. These serene colors and beach-inspired structures evoke the surrounding environment of the Bahamas and blend into the rest of the resort. Thank you to Martin Aquatic Design and Engineering, WhiteWater, and MSLA, Inc. for your collaboration.

We celebrate these awards with all of the fellow teams who worked diligently to create these iconic facilities and elevate guest experiences worldwide.

Beyond the winners above, Life Floor contributed to the following projects and was awarded Dream Design Supplier designations by Aquatics International in previous years:

2022 DREAM DESIGNS

Baha Bay at Baha Mar

Nassau, Bahamas

Life Floor is featured on Kid’s Island at Turtle Beach and Stingray Cove.

Atlantis Aquaventure Waterpark

Dubai, UAE

Life Floor surfaces multiple areas of Splasher’s Island including the newest Splasher’s Cove.

2021 DREAM DESIGNS

The St. James of Springfield, VA

Springfield, Virginia, USA

Life Floor’s blue surfacing creates a colorful backdrop in the play structure area of the facility.

2020 DREAM DESIGNS

Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day at CocoCay

Little Stirrup, Bahamas

Bold, custom graphics energize Splashaway Bay while a beach design completes the theming at Captain Jill’s Galleon.

Lopesan Costa Bavaro Resort

Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

Cushioned and slip-resistant tiles brighten up the splash pad at Splash Island Waterpark.

We love working with all of our customers and partnering with other companies to create gorgeous aquatic facility designs. For more information about these projects or to learn how you can purchase our award-winning surfacing for your facility, contact us today.

REDUCING SLIP AND FALLS AT ZERO-DEPTH ENTRIES

Having the right surfacing on zero-depth entry applications is often overlooked when renovating existing facilities or building new ones. This commonly slippery area presents a hydroplaning challenge for operators, staff, and guests alike due to the sloping surface leading into the water. Adding cushioned and slip-resistant materials at these entry points can enhance safety, design, and accessibility at any aquatic center.

What is a Zero-Depth Entry?

Zero-depth entries provide a gradually sloped surface leading from a dry deck into a shallow depth of water that progressively gets deeper. Occasionally, spray features, jets, and toys will be installed where there is no depth of water present or in shallower areas, essentially functioning as small splash pads.

Customizable surfacing options, such as Life Floor, can integrate games, shapes, or activities into these areas before the depth of water increases to add additional engagement, create themed designs, and provide improved safety.

SURFACE Design of ZERO-DEPTH ENTRIES

Sometimes, it’s difficult for guests to visualize how deep water is becoming and how quickly. Gradients and colors that symbolize shorelines and water depth can be a good visual indicator of zones. For example, a walkway or lounge chair area can have tan colors that resemble sandy beaches while light blues can represent shallow water, gradually developing into darker colors as water depth increases.

In some states within the USA, pool codes require specific surfacing color options under certain depths of water. Internationally, restrictions are often less limiting, allowing for colorful designs that can extend deep underwater.

Wave Pools

Wave pools are a popular example of zero-depth entries and include the added challenge of active waves and currents.

Children often linger and play in the shallow depths of wave pools. This can be dangerous when inner tubes float towards the shore either empty or with guests in them since they can knock small children over and cause impacts with the surface. The youngest of guests may require extra balance to stand confidently in these dynamic areas. Older children and adults may also drift into shallow depths or recline on the surface while partially submerged.

Safety surfacing such as Life Floor that is slip-resistant and cushioned helps to increase comfort while adding safety to avoid incidents. Harder or more abrasive surfacing options can limit the types of play and interaction that happen within these areas.

Zero-Depth Entry Play Areas

Zero-depth entries for younger children have gained in popularity at indoor aquatic centers as alternatives to kiddie pools. These areas complement larger pool decks, hot tubs, slides, and other amenities for older guests that are offered.

These spaces are often a hybrid of small-scale elevated structures and spray toys tailored to small children. Toddler slides, collaborative activities, and safety surfaces all contribute to longer visits, increased play value, and overall comfort.

By increasing the surrounding comfort of these areas, caretakers and parents can have greater peace of mind and enjoy these experiences alongside their children and families for a full day of fun.

SMALL SPACES

Having an accessible, comfortable, and fun aquatic amenity regardless of size will contribute to positive guest memories and return visits. Small zero-depth entries can utilize safety surfacing in unique ways.

Some of our municipal clients choose to bundle surfacing for multiple small areas across their city to improve multiple small spaces such as zero-depth entries, splash pads, and landing pads for water slide exits.

Regardless of size, use, or design, adding safety surfacing to zero-depth entries helps to reduce slip and fall incidents while also improving aesthetics and overall guest experience. Keeping these zones in mind when designing aquatic facilities can completely transform the way visitors experience these accessible entry points.

To learn more about how you can improve the safety and design of your zero-depth entry, contact us and find out how you can receive a complementary design rendering tailored to your facility.

,

Aquatic Surfacing Design Trends for 2023

,

With vibrant colors and limitless theming possibilities, aquatic surfacing designs continue to gain in popularity as a way to enhance splash pads, pool decks, and water parks. As this application evolves year after year, the Life Floor Studio takes note of the most popular design requests at different facilities worldwide. Curious to know where things stand in 2023? Explore these top aquatic surfacing trends we've been seeing so far! 

Detailed, Custom Imagery 

Since just about anything can be cut into our floors, we're seeing an increase in requests for custom design work. Some customers use this technique to illustrate a theme across a whole splash pad whereas others selectively add a few custom images as fun accent graphics. 

Bold Bands of Color 

As an alternate way to design with square tiles, several customers have resonated with large striped designs that showcase vibrant patterns or gradients of color. This application demonstrates a budget-friendly way to achieve a distinct and colorful effect.

More Complex Triangle Gradients 

Ever since our earliest triangle gradient designs debuted at locations like Cedarcrest Splash Pad and Atlantis the Palm Dubai, these continue to be some of our most popular styles. An evolution we've seen recently has been the request for more complex gradients. These include bright swirls of color, multiple islands across a splash pad, and more varied, artistic designs.

Unconventional Themes 

Manor Field Park

We've seen limitless creativity when it comes to designing aquatic spaces. Looking beyond typical water-based themes, some more recent splash pad designs have featured unique design ideas inspired by motifs like sports, winter, the forest, parks, and the desert. 

REFINED Geometric Designs 

For pool decks, country clubs, and high-end resorts, we've seen an increased interest in understated geometric designs. These patterns often use our triangle or rectangle tiles as well as our more muted or neutral color options. 

LOGOS THAT CELEBRATe BRANDS AND DESTINATIONS

Since 2022, we’ve featured add-on packages that allow customers and designers to more easily include and price Logos and Inlays. As a result, we've seen an uptick in requests for custom branding. Municipalities and theme parks often choose to include logos as a powerful way to make their aquatic facilities more unique and memorable. 

Paths and Play Opportunities 

With themed Inlays that can be laid out to create a treasure hunt trail or a path of lily pads for hopping, customers are delighted to add activities to their floors. Beyond the increase in requests we're seeing here, classic play features in the Life Floor portfolio, like hopscotch, continue to stand the test of time. 

Elevated Aquatic Themes 

Since we're designing for areas with water, splash pads that feature aquatic theming will never fade in popularity. As an evolution of these designs, we've noticed facilities leaning into more turquoise and aqua tones over more traditional blues. As noted in some of the trends above, we've also seen more requests for custom imagery and the use of our Inlays to add theming and play value. 

The Life Floor Studio continues to push the limits with our tile designs and can't wait to see how these trends keep evolving over time. Witnessing how surfacing completely transforms and brightens up facilities worldwide while creating positive experiences and memories for guests makes our work endlessly rewarding. 

Interested in exploring any of these options on a splash pad or pool deck? The Life Floor Studio offers complimentary design services and can't wait to help bring your project to life!  

Pre-Season Checklist for Aquatic Centers

As the upcoming season approaches, be sure you’re ready to curate positive experiences and memories all summer long! Keep reading for some recommendations as you prepare your aquatic center for the year.

Intentionally Evaluate Spaces

To begin any pre-season checklist, we recommend intentionally evaluating amenities for potential improvements and making a plan centered around those aspects. Some common areas of improvement that can have a significant impact on guest experience and facility management include:

  1. Shade and seating options

  2. Multi-generational engagement opportunities

  3. Accessible features and amenities

  4. Areas prone to incident reports

  5. Drinking fountains, bathrooms, and locker rooms

  6. Surface and fixture maintenance

Improve Aquatic Center Safety

Improving safety at aquatic centers often begins with adding safety surfacing to directly influence positive play value. Hazards such as slip-and-fall incidents are reduced and guests are more likely to engage in good risky play such as hopping, skipping, and playing in water.

Resolving Slippery, Failing Surfaces

Some of the most common pain points we hear involve slippery or abrasive surfaces that are difficult to maintain. These issues often lead to increased risk at facilities.

We're often contacted by parks and recreation professionals who have tried other surfacing solutions at their aquatic facilities which have failed. Rubberized or aggregate materials are often designed for dry playgrounds and aren't engineered to withstand the unique aquatic combination of UV and chemicals common at splash pads or pool decks.

To resolve these surfacing issues, choose an NSF/ANSI/CAN 50 Certified product that is slip-resistant, cushioned, impermeable, cleanable, UV resistant, and chemical resistant.

Cleaning and Hygiene

Others have looked to improve cleanability or have struggled with microbe growth on the surfacing at their facilities. Unlike porous options, Life Floor features a closed-cell technology, which doesn’t foster growth of bacteria, mold, and algae. Our tiles have been third-party tested for cleanability and offer a solution for anyone who has experienced similar issues.

Water Slide Landings

An easy, low cost way to improve safety at any facility is to install bolt-free landing pads for water slide exits and landings. These landing pads are cushioned and slip-resistant without being abrasive. Made from the same material as Life Floor tiles, they are also more durable than some multi-layered options.

Elevate the Appearance of Aquatic Amenities

If you are considering refreshing the overall design aesthetic of a facility, there are several components to consider.

Surface Updates

Surfacing can completely transform the look and feel of a facility since it is typically the largest feature present. Utilize this opportunity to create an engaging pattern under and around play fixtures, incorporate games such as hopscotch, or include thematic Inlays that add visual interest and function as a subtle search-and-find activity.

When planning for a surfacing update, consider using safety surfacing and including the overspray area to improve the overall safety of guests.

Before: Concrete Surface

After: Life Floor Surface

Fixture Updates

Fixture updates can be as simple as repainting or repairing existing features. If you want to increase play value for guests, consider upgrading fixtures to new models that facilitate collaborative play.

Before

Maintenance Updates

As you continue to evaluate updates for the season, check to ensure pumps, filtration, and systems are operating within manufacturer specifications. Fixture manufacturers have specific flow rate recommendations for their features and operating outside of those recommendations can result in weak flows that are boring or overly strong flows which can dissuade play.

Restoring slides, stairs, and other fiberglass materials can ensure operational success. Restoration experts can do site evaluations that will help you determine the areas of facilities that need attention.

Refer to manufacturer’s specifications for proper flow rates and maintenance procedures.

Image Credit: Fischer Brothers, LLC.

REFRESH Existing Aquatic Centers

Existing aquatic centers are valued as key amenities by communities and resorts across the world. Keeping them in good operating status is important for guest enjoyment and returning visitors.

Consider what elements of your existing aquatic center could benefit from a refresh and prioritize based on your unique needs. Often, guest feedback is an ideal way to better understand the pulse of how visitors are perceiving amenities. Use this feedback to help inform what would be the most appreciated updates and have the greatest positive results.

Before: Concrete and Fading Fixtures

After: Life Floor and Refreshed Fixtures

Overall, as you continue to evaluate facilities for the upcoming season, have fun! Bright pops of color, imaginative designs, and new features have the potential to transform a space. Even small improvements transform the way splash pads, pool decks, and aquatic centers look and function. Thoughtful design contributes meaningfully to guest experience and creating positive memories to keep them coming back all season long.

To learn more about how Life Floor’s surfacing solutions can help get your facility ready for the upcoming season, contact us today! We can connect you to our partners who specialize in spray and play fixtures, water slides, multi-level play structures, fiberglass restoration, and more.

,

FISCHER BROTHERS, LLC. PARTNERS WITH LIFE FLOOR AND WATERPLAY AT RAPID RIVER LODGE

,

Located near the picturesque Brainerd Lakes area, Rapid River Lodge is an ideal destination for exploring over 400 lakes, biking trails, and our favorite: a newly renovated waterpark! The lodge is making a positive impression with the upgrade of spray features from Waterplay and a beautiful Life Floor surface installed by Fischer Brothers, LLC.

BEFORE

AFTER

The refresh brightened the space with lighter colors, vibrant features, and improved safety facility-wide. The installation expertise of Fischer Brothers led to a smooth renovation with a high level of customer service, producing a final attraction sure to impress visitors.

INCLUSIVE DESIGN + SAFETY = MORE PLAY VALUE 

One of the most important goals of the partnership between Waterplay and Life Floor is to bring even more free play and accessibility to aquatic spaces. Rapid River Lodge prioritized inclusive design in every spray feature and surfacing decision, using play zones to accommodate a wide variety of play styles and the needs of different waterplayers.

With a wide range of play opportunities, from the calmer zero depth entry area with pint-sized character sprays perfect for smaller kids, to the more adventurous activity tower with elevated platforms, water cannons, and slides, this play space invites all to have fun within their ability level and comfort zone. Along with the guidance of Fischer Brothers’ restoration expertise, the waterpark at Rapid River Lodge is beautifully reimagined.

River Rapid Lodge is the first facility to debut Fischer Brothers’ new Double Lane Toddler Slide. With its modern, two-lane structure, the Double Lane Toddler Slide was designed to produce double the fun. Thoughtfully engineered materials and the intentional inclusion of Life Floor's cushioned Landing Pads make these slides beautiful, fun, and safer for the littlest water park goer. 

Life Floor safety surfacing covers every walkable surface in the waterpark. Bands of Pomegranate-colored tile offer contrasting visual cues that signal guests to exercise caution around each body of water. Visual signals are an important safety feature to show depth changes, the presence of features, and represent a changing landscape when paired with zoning for different stages of childhood development.

Thank you to Fischer Brothers and Waterplay for a collaboration filled with fun! Our team loves working on projects that focus on retrofitting facilities with inclusivity, safety, and play in mind. 

To learn more about revitalizing your attractions with inclusive design and safety, we’d love to begin a conversation with you! 

We’re thrilled to announce that Fischer Brothers, LLC has officially joined Life Floor’s Installation Network as our newest Certified Installation Partner.

Andrew Fischer accepting Life Floor’s Certified Installation Certificate on behalf of Fischer Brothers LLC

Waterplay by MAKR

Waterplay creates playful, inventive, and inclusive splash pad equipment for people from all walks of life, of all ages, and with diverse abilities. Everyone should have access to amazing, inviting, playable, enjoyable and ‘go-backable’ aquatic recreation places. With thousands of installations, millions of happy waterplayers splashing around on six continents, Waterplay is here to support you from concept, to installation, maintenance, future planning, and revitalizations. Splash pads for the win!  

Learn more about Waterplay

Fischer Brothers, LLC

Fischer Brothers, LLC got their start in 2007 restoring waterslides, and eventually moved on to other parts of the waterpark. From waterslide towers, aquatic play structures, spray features and more, Fischer Brothers has led the charge in pioneering innovative solutions for the aquatics restoration industry.

Learn more about Fischer Brothers, LLC

Life Floor

Life Floor was founded upon a vision to create safer, more memorable experiences at aquatic facilities. Since 2011, our mission has expanded to include innovative design, increased play value, and inclusivity wherever our surfacing is installed.

Across all of our unique projects, one thing remains the same: improving aquatic environments for all people will always be at the heart of our purpose.

, ,

NEW: 30 Unique Thematic Shapes for Aquatic Design

, ,

We’re excited to announce three new sets of Inlays that can be used to enhance the design, theming, and imaginative play opportunities on any splash pad or pool deck. These new additions complement our growing library of options that have helped to reimagine the potential of aquatic play through surfacing design. Check out our new additions below!

Outer Space

These Outer Space Inlays are out of this world! Teleport your guests’ imagination beyond the stars and spark daring space-themed adventures. Pair with Inlays from other collections such as our Geometric set to expand the possibilities of design .

Desert

From cacti to desert creatures, this Inlay set can set the scene for a unique landscape! For extra design potential, try pairing it with our Montauk Theme.

SPORTS

Encourage an active mindset by combining aquatics and sports! This Inlay set is inspired by some of the most popular sports in the United States. Pair with any theme or create your own from our wide range of colors. Some customers have even created soccer and football field designs out of Life Floor!

If you’re interested in including some of these fun new Inlays in your upcoming project, please contact your regional sales manager. For projects outside of the U.S., please contact our international team.

, ,

Make a SPLASH! Grant Contest 2021 Winner: Wells Park, Albuquerque, NM

, ,

In 2021, we co-hosted our second annual Make a SPLASH! Grant Contest with Inside Edge Safety Surfaces to award a municipality or non-profit organization in the United States with an all-expenses-paid splash pad surface. Our intent in initiating this contest was to be able to uplift communities across the country each year with beautiful splash pad surfacing designs that add increased safety for residents.

One of the applications we received stood out.

“The Wells Park Splash Pad is located in front of the Johnny Tapia Community Center. This community center serves a large population of low-income households and provides a full day child development program in the heart of downtown Albuquerque. The Wells Park Splash pad has a relatively small footprint but serves as an oasis for families trying to beat the heat and cool off during those hot summer months. The community center heavily utilizes the splash pad to give children an unforgettable experience when those experiences are very rare for these children.

With a new Life Floor, we will be able to elevate the experience of all those who utilize the facility. We currently have a brushed concrete surface around the interactive play features. This surface can become somewhat slick over the years of heavy traffic and repeated cleaning throughout the seasons...Staff will arrive early in the morning and disinfect the splash pad surface to provide a sanitary environment for our users. With the Life Floor material, we can breathe a bit easier when we are cleaning each morning. Life Floor will also significantly reduce the amount of slip and fall injuries we see on a regular basis. Lastly, with the many diverse designs of the Life Floor, we will be able to provide a very unique feature to an underserved population.

Thank you for your consideration.”
— Josh Herbert, Aquatics Division Manager, City of Albuquerque Parks and Recreation

BEFORE: Wells Park Splash Pad, concrete surfacing

AFTER: Wells Park Splash Pad, Life Floor

This entry resonated with members of the Life Floor and Inside Edge Safety Surfaces teams who reviewed entries and collaboratively chose this facility as the winner.

Our 2021 Grant Contest entrants chose from 6 unique pre-designed themes that would be custom fit to their project scope. The City of Albuquerque chose a vibrant 4-color banded pattern created from our square shaped tile featuring our Turquoise, Seafoam, Goldfish, and Sunshine colors. We included a custom-designed logo for the city as well.

The Make a SPLASH! Grant Contest’s co-host as well as Life Floor’s North American Preferred Installation Partner, Inside Edge Safety Surfaces, completed installation of the new surface in July of 2022. The crew worked with a high degree of professionalism and expertise to create a beautiful final result. Once they were finished, the splash pad was officially ready for the grand reopening celebration to commemorate the new surface.

We're excited to showcase a stunningly bright and cheerful Life Floor surface to uplift and transform the Wells Park Splash Pad in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Albuquerque takes great pride in the city's logo calling out the One Albuquerque motto and we are thrilled to be able to showcase that logo custom cut into the Life Floor surface. We can't wait to hear the stories of how this installation will continue to benefit the community for years to come!

We’re thankful for the opportunity to give this deserving community a new Life Floor splash pad surface and hope that it’s enjoyed for many seasons to come. Thank you to Inside Edge Safety Surfaces for co-hosting this contest with us and for installation.

Enter our Third Annual Make a SPLASH! Contest for 2022 by clicking the button below or visit our contest page for more information.

,

LIFE FLOOR NAMED 2022 DREAM DESIGN SUPPLIER

,

We're honored to be named as the Floor Covering Supplier by Aquatics International for two Dream Design Award-winning waterparks in 2022! At Baha Bay at Baha Mar and Atlantis Dubai Aquaventure, our brightly colored tiles activate these play areas and create immersive, fun environments for all guests. Congratulations to these waterparks and to all of our partners who collaborated to bring them to life!

2022 DREAM DESIGNS

Baha Bay at Baha Mar

Nassau, Bahamas

Life Floor is featured on Kid’s Island at Turtle Beach and Stingray Cove. In both areas, custom cut waves of our Aviator and Aqua tiles brighten up the surfacing at this waterpark. At Stingray Cove, Life Floor Landing Pads blend seamlessly with the surfacing design and offer enhanced cushioning at slide run-outs.

Atlantis Aquaventure Waterpark

Dubai, UAE

Life Floor surfaces multiple areas of Splasher’s Island including the newest Splasher’s Cove. In the two kids areas, triangle gradients create vibrant beach and island effects. Life Floor sea creature Inlays add theming and play value to complement the overall design.

We celebrate these awards with all of the fellow teams who worked to make these projects a reality. A special congratulations to our partners WhiteWater and Waterplay for also being named 2022 Dream Design Suppliers!

Beyond the winners above, Life Floor contributed to the following projects awarded Dream Design designations by Aquatics International in previous years.

2021 DREAM DESIGNS

The St. James of Springfield, VA

Springfield, Virginia, USA

Life Floor’s blue surfacing creates a colorful backdrop in the play structure area of the facility.

2020 DREAM DESIGNS

Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day at CocoCay

Little Stirrup, Bahamas

Bold, custom graphics energize Splashaway Bay while a beach design completes the theming at Captain Jill’s Galleon.

Lopesan Costa Bavaro Resort

Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

Cushioned and slip-resistant tiles brighten up the splash pad at Splash Island Waterpark.

We love working with all of our customers around the world and partnering with other companies to create stunning aquatic facility designs. For more information about these projects or to learn how you can purchase our award-winning surfacing for your facility, contact us today.

,

New Inlay Themes to Celebrate Summer

,

We’re excited to announce three new sets of Inlays that can be used to enhance the design, theming, and imaginative play opportunities on any splash pad or pool deck. These new additions complement our growing library of options that have helped to reimagine the potential of aquatic play through surfacing design. Check out our new additions below!

SEA LIFE

As an expansion of our Marine collection of Inlays, we can’t wait to see these new Sea Life Inlays sprinkled across designs that emulate underwater landscapes. We expect these to join our other sea creatures as some of our most popular thematic additions.

OUTDOOR EXPLORATION

Inspired by summer camping, we’ve created this set of Outdoor Exploration Inlays to complement our Forest Inlays. These designs will help to create unique, woodland themed splash pads that inspire adventure!

GEOMETRIC

We’ve already seen the limitless design possibilities when it comes to our different tile shapes so we wanted to expand those options to our Inlays. These shapes are sure to inspire countless numbers of new patterns and graphic elements. The vibrant design below gives just a glimpse at their potential!

The addition of these new Inlays to our library is just the continuation of a year-long expansion of theming options we’re making available to customers and designers. If you’re interested in including one or more of these new Inlays in your upcoming project, please contact your regional sales manager. For projects outside of the U.S., please contact our international team.

,

New Inlay Themes for Spring

,

We’re excited to announce the latest expansion of our Life Floor Inlay library. These three new sets of Inlays can be easily integrated into any design to add increased play value, theming, and visual interest. Keep an eye out for even more Inlay releases throughout the year!

AUSTRALIA + NEW ZEALAND

Transport guests down under with these new wildlife Inlays! This Australia & New Zealand themed set is inspired by Life Floor Australia and New Zealand and the magnificent projects that have been installed there. A few of our favorites include Wet’n’Wild Gold Coast, the Doone Kennedy Hobart Aquatic Center, and Australia Zoo.

TROPICAL

Design a vibrant jungle landscape with these colorful Tropical Inlays or complement the existing scenery with the Hibiscus and Monstera accents. This set pairs nicely with our Rainforest, Wildflower, or Oasis Themes.

GARDEN

Create some fun outdoor theming with this Garden Inlay set. Count all the Ladybugs as an impromptu scavenger hunt or follow the Bees to their hive! This set pairs well with our Wilderness or Rainforest Themes. The Bee Inlay is sized to fit within one of our Hexagon Tile Shapes which makes it well-suited for a honeycomb-themed environment.

Design Tips

Use Rocks Inlays in a repeating pattern to mimic a stone pathway for added play value and theming.

Combine our new Bee Inlays with our hexagon tiles to create a buzzing hive!

 

The addition of these new Inlays to our library is just the continuation of a year-long expansion of theming options we’re making available to customers and designers. If you’re interested in including one or more of these new Inlays in your upcoming project, please contact your regional sales manager. For projects outside of the U.S., please contact our international team.

,

NEW INLAY THEMES FOR 2022

,

We’re excited to announce an expansion of our Life Floor Inlay library. These three new sets of shapes can be easily integrated into any design to add increased play value, theming, and visual interest. Keep an eye out for even more Inlay releases throughout the year!

FOREST

Squirrel

Paw Prints

Bear

Oak Leaf

Fox

 

Maple Leaf

Bird

Bear Print

Acorn

Tree Stump

 

Walk your guests through the woods as they follow paw prints and spot forest animals such as birds, squirrels, and foxes with our Forest Inlays. These Inlays pair perfectly with our Wilderness and Rainforest Themes.

TREASURE HUNT

Pirate Ship

Horizontal Dash

Anchor

X

Ship’s Wheel

 

Spyglass

Treasure Chest

Diagonal Dash

Hook

Jolly Roger Flag

 

X Marks the Spot! Take your youngest guests on a pirate adventure. These Treasure Hunt Inlays pair with our Seashore Theme to create an immersive adventure experience. Whether guests are following the dotted line to the treasure chest or imagining hopping from ship to ship across the high seas, this Inlay set will enhance play value at aquatic or beach themed facilities.

POND

Butterfly

Duck

Grass Tuft

Duckling

Lizard

 

Frog

Lily Pad

Dragonfly

Turtle

Waterlily

 

Bug hunters and frog catchers will love these Pond-inspired shapes. Hop across lily pads and imagine you’ve shrunk to the size of one of our turtle Inlays as your guests explore! These Pond themed Inlays pair well with our green, blue, and tan colors. 

The addition of these new shapes to our library is just the start of a year-long expansion of theming options we’re making available to customers and designers. If you’re interested in including one or more of these new Inlays in your upcoming project, please contact your regional sales manager. For projects outside of the U.S., please contact our international team.

,

A Brighter, Safer Pool Deck in New Ulm, MN

,
New Ulm Family Recreation Center in New Ulm, Minnesota

The New Ulm Family Recreation Center in New Ulm, Minnesota features a budget-friendly three-color Life Floor design with a unique visual approach. Bands of 5 to 9 full-sized square tiles create a striped gradient effect across this indoor pool deck. This design creates a subtle play opportunity for children following along paths or hopping from one color to the next while also retaining a modern, geometric feel for adult guests.

New Ulm Family Recreation Center in New Ulm, Minnesota

As individuals enter the pool area, they have many options to choose from for engagement. 

A prominent dual water slide exits into the pool connected to the  zero depth entry where a rainbow fish slide faces one of the entrances to the pool. This zero depth entry has several small spray jets and a water umbrella where toddlers and babies can play with their parents or guardians. 

New Ulm Family Recreation Center in New Ulm, Minnesota

In the neighboring pool, lap swim can be quickly converted into a unique NinjaCross feature that lowers into the water where guests can navigate through obstacles. In one corner of the pool, a rock climbing wall extends out of the water for guests to use. A hot tub is nestled into another corner of the room for guests to relax and watch the activities in the main pool.

NinjaCross with Life Floor
 
“We love the new look of this! It feels so much better than the old stuff.”
— Anonymous Guest Comment
New Ulm Family Recreation Center in New Ulm, Minnesota

Guests can interact with these features while feeling the safety of Life Floor’s NSF/ANSI/CAN 50 certified surfacing underfoot. With added slip resistance and cushioning around the pool, guests of all ages can engage more safely and enjoy the experience more freely.

New Ulm Family Recreation Center in New Ulm, Minnesota

Thank you to the City of New Ulm, Minnesota for choosing Life Floor and to Inside Edge Safety Surfaces for installing this vibrant indoor pool deck. 

Are you wondering how you can also create a unique budget-friendly design for your facility? Contact our sales team today to have all your questions answered.

Humans Were Not Designed to Play on Concrete

Humankind has created innumerable advances in technology, science, and architecture. One of the architectural cornerstones that dates back to over 5,000 years is concrete. It has been used as support for buildings, aqueducts, sewers, streets, and bridges. These engineering feats credit how strong and durable concrete can be. However, the fact remains: concrete is unforgiving, hard, and abrasive. 

Humans were meant to thrive on soft surfaces such as grass and dirt. Sure, there are examples of humans living in caves and rocky areas, but their living spaces were covered in furs and pelts to create a softer environment. Even in today’s modern world, people gravitate towards tactile, soft finishes or materials with some amount of give. It's why we put area rugs over hardwood floors.

Free play is heightened living; faster, rougher, wilder. There is less planning and less caution, so softer surfaces protect play from getting too fast, too rough, and too wild. Playgrounds are a good example of this. Years ago, playgrounds were surfaced with that unforgiving, hard, abrasive concrete until people realized there was a better alternative that allowed for play as it was meant to happen. They realized humans weren’t designed to play on concrete.

Humans Were Not Designed to Play on Concrete

Can you imagine if preschools, daycares, living rooms, indoor basketball courts, and soccer fields were covered in concrete instead? Not only would it be uncomfortable, but there would be exponentially more scraped knees, broken bones, shin splints, bruises, and concussions.

Soft Carpeted Daycare
Slip Resistant and Cushioned Soccer Turf
Soft Sand Beach
Impact Absorbing Basketball Court

There are practical examples where you can’t solve every issue with an area rug. Tile and impermeable surfaces make sense in bathrooms, locker rooms, and around pools for hygienic purposes. Many softer solutions, often made for dry play, have been tried in these areas only to degrade over time or harbor growth of bacteria and mold. Thankfully hygienic aquatic safety surfacing has been introduced and adopted by the industry over the last decade. With the innovation of this type of safety surfacing, these areas can be cushioned with a product that offers the same impermeability as traditionally harder surfaces.  

Before: Unsafe Concrete

Before: Concrete

After: Life Floor

After: Life Floor

Life Floor fills the need for more human-friendly materials in aquatics with the material properties required for the specific needs of these environments. Soft and impermeable. Textured for slip-resistance, but not abrasive. Third party tested by NSF International. 

Want to feel the difference of a Life Floor tile? Order a sample today. 

,

Safety Drives Fun at Handy Park Splash Pad

,
Handy Park Splash Pad, Redford Township, Michigan

In 2020, we co-hosted our first ever Make a SPLASH! Contest with Inside Edge Safety Surfaces to award grants to municipalities in the U.S. for upgrading their splash pad surfaces. We initiated this contest to be able to uplift communities across the country with beautiful splash pad surfacing designs that add increased safety for residents. Redford Township, Michigan was one of our winners, earning our 3rd place prize, a 25% grant towards tiles and installation. 

“Redford Township’s splash pad is coming up on our 15th year of operation and continues to remain one of the most popular spring and summer destinations here in our community… This destination is free and open to the public regardless of what community they live in. Many of our families and surrounding community are low to moderate income so this provides an affordable fun option for summertime fun. Back when the project was completed, options for flooring for our system, budget and for sustainability was the brushed concrete. Over time and the high volume of usage, the concrete surfacing has worn down and has become very slippery over the past couple of years. We have tried several options through local contractors to find a solution, but unfortunately we made the decision to close the splash pad at the end of the 2019 season in order to find a safe, cost effective, long term solution. Since this time, we have been looking at options to re-open this popular summertime activity and maintain a safe flooring which is essential. Due to COVID this past year, Recreation Departments have been hit hard and unfortunately we had to put the project on hold. If Redford Township won the Make A Splash Contest this would help restore this amenity for the residents of not only our community but those around us and enable us to operate for many more years to come.”
— Theresa Burgess, Redford Township Leisure Services Director
Before: Handy Park Splash Pad, Redford Township, Michigan

Before: Painted Concrete

Handy Park Splash Pad, Redford Township, Michigan

After: Life Floor

The safety issues Redford Township experienced with their surfacing at Handy Park really resonated with our team. We know how important splash pads can be to provide accessible water play to communities across the country so we were happy to award this municipality a prize to make their surfacing safer. Our Studio Team designed a High Tide Theme in a 401 Pattern for the 2000 sq ft installation to brighten up the splash pad while providing a budget-friendly option along with the 25% grant. 

This automobile-themed splash pad showcases a unique car wash spray feature to inspire kids to use their imagination as they drive through the jets and sprays. With a variety of elements from very small jets to larger dumping devices, there are water play activities available to engage guests of all ages, abilities, and comfort levels.

Handy Park Splash Pad, Redford Township, Michigan

When Kelsi Goss, our Vice President of Design, visited the splash pad one weekend this summer, she remarked at how many community members and families were enjoying this feature together.

“It was great to see such a wide age range of kids having fun in the water and how many families chose to set up picnics and tents adjacent to the splash pad at Handy Park. I watched a few kids take a tumble but they bounced right up again to resume playing. This wouldn’t have been the case if they had fallen on concrete.”
— Kelsi Goss, Life Floor Vice President of Design

Having Life Floor on the surface enables a variety of activities and types of risky play. Babies can crawl across the soft surface and begin to explore water play with smaller jets. Children can be found sprinting around the splash pad playing tag, hiding under the water umbrella, “driving” through the car wash, and even doing cartwheels. We’re happy to have helped improve this community feature so residents can fully enjoy all this splash pad has to offer! 

Handy Park Splash Pad, Redford Township, Michigan
Handy Park Splash Pad, Redford Township, Michigan

Thank you to Inside Edge Safety Surfaces for installing Life Floor at Handy Park Splash Pad and for partnering with us in the contest.

, ,

Make a SPLASH! Contest Grand Prize Installation: Dothan, AL

, ,

In 2020, we co-hosted our first ever Make a SPLASH! Contest with Inside Edge Safety Surfaces to award a municipality in the U.S. with an all-expenses-paid splash pad surface. Our intent in initiating this contest was to be able to uplift communities across the country each year with beautiful splash pad surfacing designs that add increased safety for residents.

DothanAL_Q22021_RGR11039.jpeg

One of the applications we received immediately stood out.

“Let me tell you about Dothan. My City. My Heart.

Nestled in the southeast corner of Alabama, Dothan is a town of 70,000. Just 16 miles from Florida and 20 miles from Georgia, Dothan is a medical hub and is known as the Peanut Capital of the World. My charming little town is part of the Wiregrass region, which is named for a native grass, Aristida stricta, which quite literally feels like wire grass. Dothan is home to the World’s Smallest City Block, Historical Musical Murals, and the Peanut Festival.

The people here are kind. They love to play ball, swim, fish, and BBQ. They love football. You are obligated as a citizen to choose a team – Auburn or Alabama… And the rivalry is palpable. There is a church on every corner with welcoming smiles. You can merge into traffic with a wave.

However, our splash pad needs some love. It’s adjacent to a pool in a low-income area of our city… Directly behind one of the oldest recreation centers in Dothan. It’s across the tracks from a large housing project. Many of the children in this neighborhood are not able to take trips or go on vacation, but they can walk down to the splashpad for free. These guys deserve a place to play that they can be proud of and getting a Life Floor renovation would be just the ticket.

Don’t just choose Dothan, choose the citizens in this neighborhood! They deserve the best, and you can help us provide that!”
— Kelly Stakelum, Aquatics Manager
BEFORE: Andrew Belle Splash Pad, concrete surfacing

BEFORE: Andrew Belle Splash Pad, concrete surfacing

This entry struck a chord with many members of the Life Floor and Inside Edge Safety Surfaces teams who reviewed entries and ultimately chose the winner. A central tenet of our company is our core value of People. We wake up every day and strive to make the aquatics industry a safer place through surfacing so reading this heartfelt story played a strong role in our decision to award Dothan, AL the grand prize winner of our grant. The sincerity of Kelly’s entry on behalf of her city and her clear love for the people that live there made us excited to upgrade their local park with a new splash pad surface.

When it was time to call our first, second, and third place winners, we called Kelly at Dothan first. Our CEO, Jonathan Keller, our Vice President of Design, Kelsi Goss, and our East Coast Regional Sales Manager, MaryAnn Eifert, couldn’t wait to deliver the good news. The excitement in Kelly’s voice was evident and after she accepted, we proceeded with next steps to finalize the design and coordinate the installation.

As part of the design process, we collaborated with Kelly to include one of our new colors, Seafoam, as well as a custom logo to showcase Dothan’s pride. The process with our Studio Team was iterative and we ultimately landed on a vibrant 5-color square pattern featuring Ocean, Bluebird, Aviator, Limelight, and Seafoam.

Make a SPLASH! Contest Grand Prize Installation: Dothan, AL

The contest’s co-host and Life Floor’s North American Preferred Installation Partner, Inside Edge Safety Surfaces, completed installation of the new surface in May of 2021. The team worked with their usual high level of professionalism and expertise to create a beautiful end product. Once they were finished, the splash pad was officially ready for the grand reopening celebration to kickoff the summer season.

Make a SPLASH! Contest Grand Prize Installation: Dothan, AL

AFTER: Andrew Belle Splash Pad, Life Floor surfacing

The Grand Reopening Celebration of the Andrew Belle Community Splash Pad in Dothan, AL took place on May 27, 2021 – just prior to Memorial Day weekend. Many members of the local community attended the event to celebrate. It was amazing to see the visible joy on everyone’s faces as kids hopped, skipped, and ran across their new splash pad.

Make a SPLASH! Contest Grand Prize Installation: Dothan, AL
“[Concrete is] not ideal because, I mean if the kid falls, concrete hurts, but also can get hot, and it will crack and it’s just not the best experience.”
— Alison Hall, Dothan Leisure Services Director
Make a SPLASH! Contest Grand Prize Installation: Dothan, AL

We are immensely thankful for the opportunity to give this deserving community a new Life Floor splash pad surface and hope that it’s enjoyed for many seasons to come. Thank you to Inside Edge Safety Surfaces for co-hosting this contest with us and for installation.

If you would like more information about our upcoming 2021 Make a SPLASH! Contest, please contact us by filling out the form below or send us an email at solutions@lifefloor.com. Check our contest page often for when we release more information about future contests.

, ,

SETTING A SAFER PRECEDENT FOR CANADA: YMCA OF GREATER MONCTON

, ,

Recently, NSF International expanded Standard 50 to extend across Canada, which includes recommendations for surfacing in aquatic play areas under NSF/ANSI/CAN 50:26 (formerly NSF/ANSI 50:26).

YMCA OF GREATER MONCTON

With its recent Life Floor installation, the YMCA of Greater Moncton, NB is one of the first aquatic facilities in Canada to recognize the importance of having NSF/ANSI/CAN 50:26 certified safety surfacing. The facility is a combination of an indoor splash pad with a zero-depth entry and a playground. Because of this unique configuration, the staff sought out a product that was able to transition seamlessly from wet to dry applications while maintaining their commitment to safety. To accomplish this, they selected Life Floor to be installed.

“Having seen Life Floor at a major trade show, we knew it was the product we wanted to install in our new facility.”
— Scott Munro, Vice President of Facilities
YMCA OF GREATER MONCTON

A custom beach-inspired design was chosen to complement the existing tropical theming. Life Floor’s foam-rubber tiles were able to create the perfect transition the YMCA needed between the wet and dry play areas, especially since splash pads are essentially wet playgrounds. The cushioned and impact-absorbing surfacing allows children to run, jump, and play without limits - never needing to stop and put on shoes or change the way they play from one area to the next. As a result, the fully immersive experience enhances imaginative play. 

The YMCA of Greater Moncton is skipping ahead of their competition by creating a facility full of imagination, play, and fun. They have created a holistic experience to provide their members with the perfect beach day right in their community’s backyard.

We thank the YMCA of Greater Moncton for their commitment to safety and for being one of the first in Canada to adopt NSF/ANSI/CAN 50:26 safety surfacing standards for the benefit of their members. We look forward to the future as more Canadian facilities follow their example and recognize the importance of this safety standard as an integral part of their business.



To learn more about the official code in your region or state, check out this free resource.

If you’d like to specify or install NSF/ANSI/CAN 50:26 surfacing for an aquatic play area in Canada, please contact our Canadian Partner, Paul-Émile Beaudry at pebeaudry@polyvalens.ca to assist you in both English and French.

For U.S. clients and all other inquiries, please contact us directly via our online contact form or send us an email at solutions@lifefloor.com. 

French Translation

Le YMCA du Grand Moncton, NB crée un précédent sécuritaire en milieu aquatique au Canada.

Récemment, NSF International a étendu la norme Standard 50 partout au Canada, incluant des recommandations pour les surfaces de jeu aquatiques sous l’appellation NSF/ANSI/CAN 50,26 (précédemment nommée NSF/ANSI 50:26).

Avec ses récentes installations de Life Floor, le YMCA du Grand Moncton, NB est l’un des premiers centres d’installation aquatique à reconnaître l’importance d’avoir une surface sécuritaire certifiée NSF/ANSI/CAN 50:26. En effet, l’établissement se compose d’un mix de  deux (2) aires de jeux, l’une étant une surface mouillée (indoor splash pad) plane et l’autre étant une aire de jeux sèche. À cause de cette configuration spéciale, les employés ont recherché un produit qui permettrait la transition en toute transparence, de la surface mouillée à la surface sèche pour leurs activités tout en gardant un engagement de sécurité irréprochable. Un seul choix leur permettait de tout rallier : Life Floor.

Après avoir vu Life Floor lors d'un grand salon, nous avons sû que c’était le produit que nous voulions pour nos installations !  —Scott Munro, Vice Président du YMCA du Grand Moncton, NB

Au niveau du design,  le thème tropical dans l’aire de jeu d’eau et le thème plage dans l’aire de jeu sèche sont en parfaite harmonie pour s’adapter au thème pré-existant. Et maintenant, les enfants peuvent donc courir, sauter, culbuter et jouer sans limites sur une surface conforme aux nouveaux standards. Les surfaces coussinées  et absorbant tout impact permettent aux enfants de jouer sans s’arrêter pour mettre leurs chaussures ou changer leur façon de jouer d’un endroit à l’autre. Comme résultat, l’expérience devient totalement immersive et renforce leur jeu imaginatif.

Le YMCA du Grand Moncton devient donc un chef de file en adoptant des installations pleines d’imagination, de jeu et de plaisir ! Ils ont créé une expérience holistique en offrant à leurs membres une journée de plage parfaite en plein dans leur cour !

Nous remercions le YMCA du Grand Moncton de leur engagement pour la sécurité de leurs membres et d’être les premiers au Canada à appliquer la norme NSF/ANSI/CAN 50.26. Nous espérons que plusieurs autres organismes, centres aquatiques  et municipalités suivront l’exemple du YMCA et reconnaîtront l’importance de l’application de cette recommandation comme faisant partie de leur politique d’opération .

Si vous désirez de plus amples informations sur les tuiles Life Floor, communiquez avec Polyvalens Inc, notre distributeur au Canada.