Surfacing: The Most Untapped Design Feature in Aquatics

While soaring slide towers, giant play structures, and fun spray features definitely add appeal to waterparks and splash pads, surfacing is often overlooked. When the default is concrete, a massive canvas of design potential goes untapped. In fact, aquatic safety surfacing has the potential to become a play feature of its own in any aquatic space. 

Beyond the safety and inclusivity benefits that come with cushioned, slip-resistant, and non-abrasive flooring options, they provide the opportunity to increase overall play value with theming and activities designed into the surface. While these options are limitless, the following are some of our favorite examples where Life Floor transforms the nature of aquatic play.

HOPPING ACTIVITIES 

Clusters or pathways of shapes create hopping activities for guests as they explore fun aquatic spaces. 

SEARCH + FIND 

Our Inlays add theming to all facilities while also creating the potential for guests to search for certain shapes or count how many of each can be found within the floor. 

IMMERSIVE THEMING 

Giant design elements like paw prints, islands, waterways, or lily pads add to theming while creating imaginative, immersive play experiences.

GUIDED PATHS

Wavy curves, paths, or even treasure hunts can lead guests around splash pads as they explore new ways to engage with features. Our expanded Inlay library provides limitless potential to create meandering trails of lily pads, tree stumps, rocks, or sea shells as standard add-on packages to any surfacing design. 

GAMES 

Designing games into the surface has become a popular choice for aquatic facilities. Guests can  explore these features on their own and activity directors can also utilize them as part of a property’s recreational offerings. 

THE FLOOR IS LAVA 

Geometric designs create the potential for guests to invent their own games or activities such as “The Floor is Lava” where they choose to hop across tiles of specific colors while avoiding others. 

IMAGINATIVE PLAY 

When life-sized objects or environments are designed into a space, guests are able to engage in imaginative activities, using the surface as a play feature. 

As we continue to creatively collaborate with our customers and designers, these examples only keep expanding. Exploring surfacing design options has consistently proven to unlock new areas of theming and play potential. These elements can be designed into new facilities but are often a popular choice for retrofits, adding bright color and exciting new elements to refresh existing play areas. 

Interested in exploring these play features as part of an aquatic project? We’re excited to hear your ideas and to start creating some complimentary design options that illustrate the potential of your surfacing.

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Custom Aquatic Theming at Wet'n'Wild Gold Coast, Australia

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Wet'n'Wild Gold Coast in Australia chose Life Floor for their H2Oasis splash pad. This unique 8-color design was created by Burling Brown Architects located in Queensland.

This installation features a unique custom-cut design highlighted with Porcelain Life Floor tiles weaving through the main colors. These Porcelain lines create organic shapes with contrasting color blocks and allow for subtle paths of engagement through spray fixtures.

Guest experience is important for an aquatic amenity such as H2Oasis. Choosing colors for the surface that complement the surrounding environment allows for immersive theming and lends to a guest’s overall impression of their visit.

Thank you to Grant Burgess, Managing Director for Life Floor Australia and New Zealand, for his creative collaboration with Burling Brown Architects and his strategic partnership with Grassports Australia installers. Their vision for executing this project successfully with excellence resulted in innovative new installation tactics that can be applied to future projects in Australia.

Life Floor in the Caribbean

Tired of the snowy Minnesota winter, the Life Floor team kicked off annual planning meetings in the Caribbean at the start of the year. We were excited to celebrate a successful 2022 as we sailed to two islands in the Bahamas featuring award-winning Life Floor installations. As an added bonus, our team was able to observe Life Floor onboard the ship.

We invite you to escape to the tropics as you explore our team's adventures on Royal Caribbean's Freedom of the Seas as well as our excursions to Perfect Day at CocoCay and Baha Bay at Baha Mar on Nassau!

One of the reasons why we chose this ship for our planning meetings is because it features Life Floor in the Adventure Ocean kids area. Several cruise lines have chosen our Slate tiles as their preferred surfacing for indoor kids play spaces given its cushioning, cleanability, and IMO certification.

Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas also features a FlowRider that uses Life Floor for slip-resistance along the ramps. Our first day on board the ship was the best opportunity to see this area in action since the following days were filled with meetings, excursions, and fun with team members at sea.

On our second day, the ship docked at Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean’s private island. Immediately after the team got onto the island, we were greeted by our themed installation at Captain Jill's Galleon. 

We met with the operators of the island who gave us a tour that eventually led to another installation of ours, Splashaway Bay. This particular splash pad has won Aquatics International's Dream Design award. This project was designed in collaboration with Martin Aquatic. 

For our day at sea, most of the team's time was spent in annual planning meetings. Afterwards and over the course of the sailing, the group thoroughly enjoyed the amenities on board the ship as well as the ability to spend quality time together. 

Our final day was spent at Nassau, where the team was able to visit and tour Baha Bay at Baha Mar. This waterpark has won Aquatics International's Dream Design award as well as a Leading Edge award from WWA. Life Floor is installed in four different areas around the property.

At Stingray Cove, Aqua and Aviator swirls surface a splash pad featuring a giant play structure. 

At Turtle Beach, Life Floor surfaces the walls, steps, floor, and landing pads of the main pool as well as an adjacent splash pad and zero depth entry pool. 

Hexagon Life Floor tiles can also be found along the ramps of the waterpark's FlowCurl. 

The most unexpected application of Life Floor we got to see was in the flamingo pool! Concrete is too abrasive for flamingo feet and can cause a condition called Bumblefoot. Thankfully, Life Floor's soft tiles provide the perfect solution. 

Overall, Life Floor’s time spent in the Caribbean provided us with a productive planning week filled with team bonding, opportunities to see award-winning projects, and time spent with operators at all of these beautiful tropical locations.

Inspired by the Life Floor applications above? Our team would love to learn more about your project and walk you through our complimentary design process. Contact our team today to start the conversation.

TOP 10 Life Floor Installations from 2022

2022 was filled with a variety of design projects ranging in complexity, size, and theming. As we look back at the year in review, there are certainly some installations that stand out. The following highlight our top 10 unique Life Floor projects that were installed in 2022.

most TROPICAL FACILITY THEME

Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa

Location: Seven Mile Beach, Grand Cayman
Install Date: April 2022
Area: 4,500 ft² (418 m²)
Main Colors: Sandstone, Sandbar, Gobi, and Porcelain
Texture: Ripple 2.0
Designer: WhiteWater
Engineering Consultant: Martin Aquatic Design and Engineering
Installer: Elegance Interior Solutions
Photography Credit: Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa

FIRST PROJECT TO FEATURE AUSTRALIA + NEW ZEALAND INLAYS

Brimbank Aquatic and Wellness Centre

Location: 90 Taylors Rd, Keilor Downs, Victoria, Australia
Install Date: July 2022
Area: 4,630 ft² (430 m²)
Colors: Terra Cotta, Pomegranate, Goldfish, Sunshine, Sandbar, Sandstone, Ivory, Seafoam, Turquoise, Iceberg, Aviator, and Ocean
Texture: Ripple 2.0
Thickness: 3/8” (7/8” at slide runout)
Designer: Life Floor Studio
Architect: Williams Ross Architects
Installer: Mauer Construction Tiling

OUR SECOND ANNUAL MAKE A SPLASH! GRANT CONTEST WINNER

Wells Park Splash Pad

Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
Install Date: July 2022
Area: 1,360 ft² (126 m²)
Colors: Turquoise, Seafoam, Goldfish, and Sunshine
Texture: Ripple 2.0
Thickness: 3/8”
Designer: Life Floor Studio
Installer: Inside Edge Safety Surfaces

MOST REMOTELY LOCATED PROJECT

Dimond Park Aquatic Center

Location: Juneau, Alaska, USA
Install Date: May 2022
Area: 6,000 ft² (557 m²)
Colors: Bluebird, Iceberg, Boulevard, River Rock, and Foghorn
Texture: Ripple 2.0
Thickness: 3/8”
Designer: Life Floor Studio
Installer: Inside Edge Safety Surfaces

BEST ATHLETIC THEMING

Manor Park

Location: Huntington, New York, USA
Install Date: June 2022
Area: 2,520 ft² (234 m²)
Colors: Evergreen, Limelight, and Ivory
Texture: Ripple 2.0
Thickness: 3/8”
Designer: Life Floor Studio
Installer: Inside Edge Safety Surfaces

MOST CULTURALLY SIGNIFICANT

Kununurra Splash Park

Location: Kununurra, Australia
Install Date: May 2022
Area: 5,380 ft² (500 m²)
Colors: Olive, Sunshine, Kestrel, Ivory, Terra Cotta, Sepia
Texture: Ripple 2.0
Thickness: 3/8”
Installer: Grassports Australia (QLD)

MOST UNIQUE APPLICATION OF LIFE FLOOR

Ka'ana Pop-Up Surf Park

Location: British Columbia, Canada
Install Date: Summer 2022
Area: 350 ft² (33 m²)
Colors: Porcelain, Tiki, Evergreen, Olive, and Goldfish
Texture: Ripple 2.0
Thickness: 3/8”
Designer: Life Floor Studio
Installer: Inside Edge Safety Surfaces
Partner: Daldorado

FIRST INSTALLATION IN SWITZERLAND

Red Whale Swim School

Location: Geneva, Switzerland
Install Date: September 2022
Area: 1,600 ft² (150 m²)
Colors: Ocean and Aviator
Texture: Ripple 2.0
Thickness: 3/8”
Designer: Life Floor Studio
Installer: CreateScape Ltd.

MOST COLOR VARIETY

Madison Community Center

Location: Madison, South Dakota, USA
Install Date: January 2022
Area: 6,624 ft² (615 m²)
Colors: Limelight, Seafoam, Turquoise, Aviator, Bluebird, Ocean, Kestrel, Heron, Foghorn, River Rock, and Boulevard
Texture: Ripple 2.0
Thickness: 3/8”
Designer: Life Floor Studio
Installer: Inside Edge Safety Surfaces

BEST OVERLOOK

Hervey Bay Waterpark

Location: 267 Esplanade Pialba, Queensland, 4655, Australia
Install Date: August 2022
Area: 11,000 ft² (1,022 m²)
Colors: Ocean, Aviator, Bluebird, Boulevard, Sandbar, and Porcelain
Texture: Ripple 2.0
Thickness: 3/8”
Designer: WhiteWater

Thank you to all of our partners and customers who trusted us to make aquatic facilities safer, more beautiful, and more accessible in 2022.

Happy Holidays from the Life Floor Team!

2022 has been a year of growth and innovation for our team. From collaboration on new and exciting partnerships to developing soon-to-be-released announcements, we’re looking forward to 2023 with enthusiasm. I want to take this opportunity to thank you personally for being part of the Life Floor story and for your commitment to making aquatics a space for people of all ages and abilities to enjoy.

This year, our team celebrated the following top highlights:

  • We celebrated our 2021 Make a SPLASH! Grant Contest Winner at the grand re-opening of Wells Park Splash Pad in Albuquerque, New Mexico this Summer.

  • We announced Splash Island at Sammy Haggard Park in Danielsville, Georgia as the winner of the 3rd annual Make a SPLASH! Grant Contest co-hosted by our Preferred Installation Partner, Inside Edge Safety Surfaces. This Grant Contest enables us to give back to deserving communities in need of safety surfacing.

  • We announced a new partnership with Waterplay by MAKR. 

  • We received a Leading Edge award from WWA for Aqua Nick at Nickelodeon Riviera Maya. Baha Bay at Baha Mar also received a Leading Edge Award.

  • Life Floor was 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.

  • We led educational speaking sessions at WWA, NRPA, and GRPA trade shows with topics including design, safety, and accessibility.

  • Numerous partners represented Life Floor in their trade show booths this year including: Inside Edge Safety Surfaces, Martin Aquatic Design and Engineering, Waterplay, WhiteWater, Paddock, Daldorado, Aquatic Design Group, Rain Drop Products, and Prairie Surfaces. Thank you to all for recommending our safety surfacing. 

  • We released 120 new standard Inlay shapes to significantly expand our Inlay Library and provide new theming and design possibilities.

  • We launched our new Designed for Play Brochure and Lookbook Volume 9.

  • The list of countries featuring Life Floor grew including our first installations in Anguilla, Czech Republic, Egypt, Grand Cayman, Qatar, and Switzerland.

  • We were recognized by the USDA this year following our growth and development after receiving two of their grants in 2015. These funds enabled our company to transition manufacturing from Vietnam to South Dakota, allowing us to proudly state that Life Floor is Made in the USA for western hemisphere projects. 

  • We collaborated with Ka’ana Wave Co. and Daldorado on Ka’ana’s first pop-up surf park in Britannia Beach, BC, Canada.

  • We saw our Cruise line customers return to business in earnest which saw us doing work with 7 different brands in 2022.

  • We manufactured over 150,000 Life Floor tiles (600,000 sq ft/55,740 sq m) between South Dakota and China!

We have some exciting news to come in 2023. Keep an eye out for milestone projects, new partnerships, and product updates!

Thank you again to all of our vendors, partners, and clients for working alongside us in 2022. We look forward to partnering with you next year as we further our mission to make aquatic facilities safer, more beautiful, and more accessible for all people.

Warmly,

Jonathan Keller | CEO of Life Floor

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NEW: 30 Unique Thematic Shapes for Aquatic Design

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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.

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Made in the USA: How USDA Grants Changed Life Floor History

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In 2015, we were honored to receive grants from the USDA Rural Development's Intermediary Relending Program & Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Program. These funds enabled our company to transition manufacturing from Vietnam to South Dakota, allowing us to proudly state that Life Floor is Made in the USA.

With our production line stateside, we've been able to drastically reduce our carbon footprint while engaging in groundbreaking research and development opportunities. We will continue to grow and innovate with our mission in mind to make aquatics facilities safer and more beautiful for people of all ages and abilities.

Thank you to the USDA for contributing to our company's history and empowering us to further improve the lives of people around the world.

The following content is an excerpt from the USDA Rural Development’s article about Life Floor titled, Making a Splash in Rural South Dakota.

Growing up, we all remember visiting the local pool or water park. Lifeguards blew a whistle warning us to slow down as we dashed to the refreshing water on dangerous slippery, molten-hot concrete.

But today’s pools, water parks and splash pads are much safer thanks to companies like Life Floor.

Life Floor first received $300,000 in 2014 through a partnership between Heartland Rural Electric Fund, Lake Area Improvement Corporation and East River Electric’s Rural Electric Economic Development, Inc. (REED) Fund was put together to assist the company. East River Electric’s REED Fund provided revolving loan funds received through USDA Rural Development’s Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant program and Lake Area Improvement Corporation provided loan funds received through USDA Rural Development’s Intermediary Relending Program. The equipment needed to get the manufacturing facility on its feet was made possible through funding provided by these entities all located within the state of South Dakota.

They opened in 2015 as a pilot program specializing in aquatic tiles that are both slip resistant and soft. A “Doing Business As” company of MNY Group, LLC in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Life Floor developed a solution for a safer surface while providing a pleasant aesthetic to welcome guests.

“We had to do a lot of engineering to make the flooring work, but we’re bringing back the knowledge of how it’s done,” said Vimal Thakkar, Process Engineer for Life Floor. “It’s very rewarding knowing we are making a safe place for families to gather and we’re proud to say this is made in the USA.”

The product was originally manufactured in Vietnam, but the company wanted to have more control on research and development and do it at a lower cost and lower carbon footprint. As Life Floor began manufacturing in Madison, the company focused on efficiency and creating a cost-competitive product with a focus on a surface that could stand the test of time against sunlight, water and heavy foot traffic.

In 2018, the company began a major expansion, quadrupling its footprint from 2,500 square feet to 10,000 square feet.

“Our growth continued even into 2020 during the pandemic,” said MNY Group CEO Jonathan Keller. “Because waterparks and pools were mostly closed during the pandemic, we continued to see growth as these businesses upgraded to a safer surface for their customers and newly constructed aquatic facilities completed construction.”

Throughout their first six years of manufacturing in South Dakota, Life Floor has seen a continued shift between international and domestic customers and from new construction to retrofitting existing locations. Now in 2022, Keller says the company is performing well in both markets and sees a balance between new construction and retrofit projects.

Thakkar also highlighted the company’s focus on designing floors that match the branding of their customers and using technologies that streamline the process from raw material to a finished tile.

“Our customers expect a product that matches their brand, so we spend a lot of time ensuring we have matched their colors and that those colors resist fading from harsh elements,” said Thakkar. “We transitioned from die-cut tiles to precision cutting, which has decreased production time and increased our precision.”

While Life Floor works with customers globally, local businesses have benefited from the same material to keep customers safe.

“As we remodeled our pool area in early 2022, we recognized the need to make our floor safer,” said Gene Wockenfuss, director for the Madison Community Center. “Life Floor and Falcon Plastics were able to assist in some of the costs to upgrade the flooring.”

Wockenfuss joked they weren’t so sure about the bright colors when they first saw the design but were reassured the choices would provide a vibrant upgrade to the 20-year-old building.

“We are so happy with the floor and customers have praised the upgraded look and safety,” said Wockenfuss. “We’re already planning to add more safety features from Life Floor in the future.”

MNY Group expects to see an increase in demand and is exploring expansion and growth to meet the growing popularity in Life Floor tiles around the world.

More information about Rural Development’s Intermediary Relending Program (IRP) can be found at https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/intermediary-relending-program.

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Waterslide Tower Restoration and Refresh in Spencer, Iowa

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In January of 2022, the City of Spencer, Iowa contacted Fischer Brothers about replacing the failed fiberglass steps on their waterslide tower at the Spencer City Aquatic Center. An inspection in February revealed that the tower’s fiberglass steps and landings had deteriorated to the point where there was an immediate need for repair. The once-white surfaces were stained after years of use, most of the previous surfacing product was worn smooth, and cracks had developed in the fiberglass.

The stairs and decks were originally made with a fiberglass exterior and a balsa wood coring interior. Cracks in the fiberglass had allowed water to rot the balsa wood coring from many harsh Midwestern seasons. The saturated coring would freeze each winter and thaw every spring, incrementally delaminating the fiberglass from its internal coring.

Before: Cracks in the Fiberglass

This project provided a great opportunity for Fischer Brothers and Life Floor to partner in solving this city’s slide tower issues. In August, Fischer Brothers sent a crew to tackle the project. They began by identifying all the structural problem areas and started work. Large portions of fiberglass were completely rebuilt using synthetic coring instead of balsa wood and more than 20 gallons of resin were used to repair the landings and stairs. Every square inch of the fiberglass was either rebuilt or sanded down to remove the old surface texture and create a smooth and stable surface for the installation of Life Floor safety surfacing.

Rotted Balsa Wood Core

New Fiberglass Restoration

Life Floor Safety Surfacing

Life Floor was the preferred choice for this WhiteWater and Fischer Brothers project in the City of Spencer, Iowa since the safety surfacing not only provides increased slip-resistance and cushioning, but also refreshes the visual appeal of the whole tower. The city chose to use Iceberg and River Rock colors in Life Floor’s Ripple 2.0 texture for this project. The pale blue Iceberg tiles were used on all the landings and stair treads and the grey River Rock tiles were installed on the step nosings and risers to provide contrasting colors and added safety. The surfacing on the slide tower is now more comfortable for bare feet, and it looks great!

About 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. Fischer Brothers is currently undergoing the process to become a Certified Life Floor Installer.

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

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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.

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How Long Will Life Floor Last?

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Children jumping into a pool.

With over 2,000 installations worldwide, Life Floor is trusted by leading brands and is the recommended surface for WhiteWater, Waterplay, and Rain Drop Products. Our tiles are made from a closed cell foam-rubber and we find that partners and customers are often curious about the general lifespan of our surfacing. While we offer a 5-year material warranty on our 3/8” thick tiles, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to durability. The following are a few factors to consider when assessing Life Floor for different environments.

TRAFFIC

Generally, after 10 million steps, our tiles will start to experience texture fading, reduced cushioning, and can potentially show small micro cracks from pool chemicals and UV exposure.

UV EXPOSURE

UV exposure is the greatest factor affecting durability. We’ve engineered our tiles to last in extreme UV climates like Miami for at least 5 years. If you fall into a climate zone with less UV exposure than climates closest to the equator, you can expect outdoor Life Floor installations to last between 7-10 years.

AVERAGE EXPECTATIONS

Indoor waterpark installations typically last 10-15 years. Outdoor splash pad installations typically last 7-10 years. Geographic location and volume of traffic often play a role in extending or shortening these expectations.

Light use, moderate use, and extreme use examples for Life Floor lifespan.
Custom designed splash pad with large bear paw print inlay.

WHAT ABOUT COLD CLIMATES?

Life Floor is engineered to flex with the freeze and thaw cycles of seasons.

The top of Life Floor tiles may expand and contract with high and low temperatures. In winter months, contraction creates wider joints. In summer months, expansion creates tighter joints. Rapid temperature changes and/or wide swings have negligible impact on tile performance after installation. Approved contact cement adhesives keep the base of the tile secured to the underlayment or substrate.

Pictured above is one of our oldest outdoor splash pad installations at Wilderness Resort in Wisconsin Dells. This splash pad has experienced TEN freeze-thaw cycles and is still performing great!

Custom designed splash pad with children running through spray features.

WHAT ABOUT COLOR LOSS?

We love design and we want every surface to look bold and bright for as long as possible. Colors generally fade in sunlight, but we’ve spent over a decade engineering our tiles to increase color longevity.

With our latest product innovations tailer to UV resistance, colors will stay vibrant through the warranty period when facilities follow proper water chemistry protocols and tile maintenance.

Want to learn about how our tiles are third-party tested for durability?
Read about how we meet the criteria for the NSF/ANSI/CAN 50 standard here.

GET STARTED ON YOUR PROJECT TODAY

With complementary design services and a dedicated team ready to answer any questions, we can’t wait to identify a solution for your surfacing needs. Contact us to get the ball rolling!

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Is Concrete Surfacing the Right Choice for Splash Pads?

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Using concrete as the surface for an aquatic play area is like building a house, putting down plywood and calling it a home. Sure, it functions, but it’s not going to be comfortable or add any design value. And that’s the reality of concrete. It functions fine as a foundation, but is that all we want out of surfacing?

Before: Concrete
After: Life Floor

Life Floor Activates the Entire Splash Pad

At Life Floor, we believe safety surfacing dramatically improves the user experience. It completes the immersive experience you’ve planned and budgeted for, combining safety, playfulness, and utility all in one. In fact, because of the way Life Floor performs with water, it’s actually an additional play feature that activates the entire splash pad.

Child standing on a custom Life Floor surfboard Inlay

The Surface is a Canvas for Play

Life Floor is a feature because it encourages different kinds of play. The entire splash zone is energized when Life Floor is the surface. Kids cartwheel, jump, somersault, crawl, and tumble their way through spray features. In other words, users play in more ways with Life Floor. By equipping the surface for play, designers can engage 90% more of the aquatic facility.

Child jumping over a spray jet on a splash pad.

Investing in Safety and Play Value

The added safety and play benefits of Life Floor are a worthwhile investment. Explore some of the ways we’ve transformed facilities and see what our customers have to say about Life Floor.

Historically, aquatic surfacing has been disastrous. Everything has failed. But with Life Floor, that’s all changed. You can now specify durable surfacing that doubles as a feature. Life Floor's performance and durability have been third-party tested through NSF, which is why we can confidently say we are the only aquatic safety surface that does exactly what it should do.

Want to learn about how our tiles are third-party tested for durability?
Read about how we met the criteria for NSF Standard 50:26 here.

HAVE A PROJECT THAT NEEDS LIFE FLOOR?

Contact us below and tell us about your project. Our Studio Team provides custom design concepts free of charge. We look forward to designing with you soon!

BEACHSIDE FUN AT MOREY’S PIERS

Morey’s Piers overlooks the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Wildwood, New Jersey and is perfectly located for guests who are looking for an elevated beach experience. Our partner, WhiteWater, designed these two oceanside attractions with over 10,000 square feet of Life Floor at Morey’s Piers’ Bonsai Beach and Camp KidTastrophe splash pads.

Bonsai Beach

Bonsai Beach features a beach inspired Life Floor design complete with Marine Inlays, custom surfboards and a custom logo. The outer edges of the splash pad replicate the sandy beaches just beyond the pier and the brilliant turquoise colors leading towards the center of the play area resemble crashing waves.

Bonsai Beach is a fully submerged splash pad located on Surfside Pier as part of Ocean Oasis Water Park.

Did you know Life Floor can be installed both above and below water?

Installing Life Floor on the bottom of fully submerged splash pads, pools, zero-depth entries, and waterparks is an easy way to add more visual interest to a space or signal to guests that the depth of water is changing by including gradients that get darker as the depth increases. Including visual signals for guests is an important aspect of accessible design.

Camp KidTastrophe

Camp KidTastrophe showcases a unique pattern centered around the main elevated play structure. Marine Inlays complement the space and add play value as kids run and splash around the structures. This energetic splash pad is located on Mariner’s Pier as part of Raging Waters Water Park.

“Life Floor requires way less annual maintenance than other surfaces we’ve had in the past. We would definitely recommend Life Floor to other facilities.”
— Will Morey, Director of Waterpark Operations

Thank you to WhiteWater for the collaboration on this project and to Inside Edge Safety Surfaces for installation services. If you want to learn more about Life Floor, contact us today.

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LIFE FLOOR NAMED 2022 DREAM DESIGN SUPPLIER

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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.

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New Inlay Themes to Celebrate Summer

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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.

AQUA NICK AT NICKELODEON™ RIVIERA MAYA

Overall view of Bikini Bottom Beach

Families are sure to enjoy a fun-packed vacation at Aqua Nick at Nickelodeon Hotels and Resorts, Riviera Maya. With water features covering two-thirds of the property’s location, there’s something for everyone! 

Life Floor surfaces several activity zones at the resort including Bikini Bottom Beach and Paw Patrol Adventure Bay. Vibrant Bluebird, Aviator, and Iceberg colors are designed in a wave pattern throughout the park, which helps to create a consistent theme that compliments the features and provides added safety and comfort for guests of all ages.

Feature of Spongebob Squarepants character.
Feature of Paw Patrol character.

In addition to the slides and structures, the characters themselves are designed and manufactured by WhiteWater. Spongebob Squarepants and Paw Patrol friends are prominently featured around the main activity zones and some other characters can be seen from other Nickelodeon™ shows such as Blue from Blue’s Clues.

Feature of Blue's Clues character.
“[Aqua Nick] is the largest theming project that WhiteWater has ever created, incorporating the intellectual property of Nickelodeon™ across 11 exhilarating water slides, a RainFortress 5, AquaPlay 200, Splash Pad, and Lazy River.”
— WhiteWater
Feature of Spongebob Squarepants character.

To learn more about this installation and to view project specifications, click the button below:

Thank you to WhiteWater for collaborating with us on this project. To begin your own Life Floor x WhiteWater project that will create lasting memories for your guests for years to come, contact us today. 

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New Inlay Themes for Spring

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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.

ALL ABOARD! CRUISES FILLED WITH AQUATIC FUN

Guest experience is essential aboard any cruise ship to ensure a fun and unique vacation for passengers. Among the numerous amenities available, water features have become increasingly popular attractions. Flowriders by WhiteWater Industries, waterslides, splash pads, and beautiful pools have become staples for many vessels. As a result, patrons have come to expect bigger and brighter aquatic experiences as new vessels are built. 

LARGE AQUATIC PLAY STRUCTURES

Elevated structures such as multi-level interactive water play structures or waterslide towers create an immediate presence that cruisers are often amazed by. These types of amenities serve as a focal point for the ship as a whole and create lasting memories.

Carnival Cruise Lines

Surf machines such as Flowrider by WhiteWater Industries are compact attractions, but they have a large onboard impact. For many guests, exposure to surf machines like these might happen for the first time on a cruise. Some ships have chosen to reinforce branding alongside the surrounding walkways and reduce risk with Life Floor’s custom logos and safety surfacing benefits.

POOL DECKS

Pool decks are popular amenities on cruise ships. Having a comfortable pool deck where guests feel at ease improves guest experience at these amenity types. Because these features are central to recreation on the upper decks of ships, vibrant designs that match the ship’s theming have become increasingly popular.

Cruise Ship Pool Deck

Beyond the focus on great looking pool decks, it’s essential that these areas are designed with safety and cleanability in mind. Certain elements can provide visual signals to guests regarding critical elements such as a pool edge, step down, or depth of water. Slip resistance can help maintain guests’ footing in these wet areas especially when paired with motion at sea. Surfaces that resist the growth of harmful bacteria help to protect the health of guests, especially since ships are heavily occupied with little downtime between voyages. 

By keeping these elements in mind, the upper decks of cruise ships provide the ultimate zones for aquatic relaxation and fun for their guests as they voyage across the seas. 

SPLASH PADS

Splash pads have become a popular amenity onboard cruise ships for families with young children or guests looking for aquatic play outside a pool setting.

Splash pads provide a variety of play options from dump buckets to water spray features. Generally, free play is more widely available on splash pads due to play requiring a level of imagination and creativity. Encouraging free play by having a highly themed splash pad can help guests who may not know one another play with a similar theme in mind. For example, a pirate themed splash pad can lend a story arc option to guests and create memories that may not have otherwise happened. 

Including all aspects of a splash pad’s construction in theming allows for greater customization and control of the greater cruise experience. From water jets to surfacing, utilizing all the aspects of splash pad design can curate experiences for guests.

#choosefun Carnival Cruise

Image Credit: eatsleepcruise.com

KIDS’ PLAY AREAS

Kids’ play areas are perfect for onboard daycares and family zones. Both indoor and outdoor dry play areas on cruise ships often feature various playground equipment that require a fall attenuating, cushioned surface to protect against accidental falls when equipment is elevated. An IMO-certified surface like Life Floor has been popular in these applications. 

Fun, vibrant flooring designs can help brighten up a play area by incorporating colors and themes that complement the rest of the space. Inlaid designs can provide another layer of play engagement with surface games or scavenger hunts. Life Floor’s custom cutting capabilities can also reinforce branding with cruise line logos or iconography. 

See our standard Inlay Library here.

PRIVATE ISLANDS

Beyond all of the fun on board, cruise lines that stop at their own private islands allow for all-inclusive theming in a secluded locale. Building an island environment is incredibly complex and requires a wide scope of considerations which centers around guest experience and enjoyment. Aquatic amenities are often the main features on private islands as guests seek to cool off and enjoy warm weather.

Life Floor is featured at two splash pads that can be enjoyed whenever passengers spend a Perfect Day® at CocoCay® courtesy of Royal Caribbean. Guests can cool off, run and play, or relax on the sidelines at both Splashaway Bay designed by Martin Aquatic Design & Engineering or at Captain Jill’s Galleon designed by the Life Floor Studio. These two projects at CocoCay are quintessential examples of Life Floor’s ability to match any aquatic feature’s theming and support risk reduction. 

The graphic elements of these two installations extend the scope of theming to provide immersive engagement for guests.  At Splashaway Bay, the designs on the slide tower panels were integrated into the surface design. Similarly, Captain Jill’s Galleon features a massive vessel with the surfacing surrounding it designed to mimic a body of water. 

Guest experience at an island vista requires comprehensive planning and safety parameters to ensure a low-risk environment while providing ample options for adrenaline-pumping adventures mixed with relaxing opportunities. To minimize interruptions to play, reducing overall risk is critical. One way to reduce risk in aquatic features specifically is to invest in safety surfacing that has increased slip-resistance and cushioning to better protect guests. 

Life Floor’s IMO Certified safety surfacing is both lightweight and durable for all types of wet or dry amenities.

We have so much fun working on these projects and serving the unique needs of our cruise partners such as Royal Caribbean, Carnival Cruise Lines, MSC, and Norwegian Cruise Lines among others. To specify Life Floor for your cruise ship, please contact Lindsay Fetzer here.

Unique Aquatic Designs at Vacation Destinations Worldwide

Some of our favorite projects include installations at sunny vacation destinations around the world. These locations chose Life Floor surfacing to add theming and design to their aquatic facilities and play areas with the added benefits of cushioning and slip-resistance that comes with our flooring. 

To give a sampling of some of the top projects on our travel bucket lists, we've compiled a list below. Many of these featured splash pads and pool decks are customized to look like seascapes, while others feature vibrant graphic elements. We've loved partnering with each of these resorts and travel destinations as we continue to provide a fun aquatic design solution to customers worldwide.

DUBAI

Jungle Bay Waterpark

“Inspired by the islands of Greece, the waterpark was designed intentionally with a clean, minimalist style. The park features rides and attractions for all ages… all surfaced with Life Floor for the whole family.” - WhiteWater Industries

Jungle Bay Waterpark is accessible through both The Westin Dubai and Le Méridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort in Dubai, UAE.

VISIT THE PORTFOLIO PAGE

Atlantis The Palm Dubai

As one of the world’s leading resorts, Atlantis The Palm Dubai boasts a complete resort experience. The submerged splash pad at Aquaventure Waterpark, which features a beach theme, was created for maximum entertainment and superior guest experience complete with Life Floor safety surfacing. 

VISIT THE PORTFOLIO PAGE

The Beach Jumeirah

Located between the panoramic backdrop of the Dubai skyline and the turquoise waters of the Persian Gulf, The Beach splash pad delights families residing in the luxurious Jumeriah residential area.

VISIT THE PORTFOLIO PAGE

CARIBBEAN

Perfect Day at CocoCay

Cruisers of Royal Caribbean can truly have a Perfect Day at CocoCay. There’s something for everyone with numerous water play features to choose from and enjoy. From the Tallest Waterslide in North America to the largest freshwater pool in the Bahamas, this experience is a fun-filled getaway for the whole family. Life Floor is featured at two splash pads on the island with colorful surfacing that brightens up both Splashaway Bay and Captain Jill's Galleon.

VISIT THE PORTFOLIO PAGE

Lopesan’s Costa Bavaro Resort

Splash Island Waterpark is a picturesque family vacation destination in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic located at Lopesan’s Costa Bavaro Resort. This 27-acre themed resort pairs luxury with fun and has zoned areas for even the youngest guests.

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Jungala Aqua Experience

Jungala Aqua Experience is internationally known as a leader in guest experience. By placing capacity limits on accommodations, this luxury resort is able to provide guests with an experience that truly feels unique. This location features a RainFortress 5 structure by WhiteWater Industries paired with vibrant Life Floor surfacing to create an action-packed aquatic play environment.

VISIT THE PORTFOLIO PAGE

AUSTRALIA

Australia Zoo

Australia Zoo created a beautiful splash pad at the center of their Laughing Lolly Shop and Water Park - a place where kids can play and cool off in the blazing Queensland sun while exploring beautiful sculptures of Australian animals, designed by the Zoo’s artist team. True to their environmental mission, they use water recycling components to reduce waste and give back to the wild.

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Sugarworld Adventure Park

As a central place for the community to connect and for local kids to cool off in the Queensland heat, the park features a 7,000 square foot play pool, complete with a play structure. Located near the site of an old sugar mill, this council-owned waterpark is the centerpiece of the community of Edmonton outside Cairns, Australia.

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ULTIQA Beach Haven Resort

“ULTIQA Beach Haven on Broadbeach is the perfect Gold Coast getaway. Views of the Pacific Ocean, Gold Coast Coastline and Hinterland views combine with relaxed apartments, creating a family friendly coastal destination.”

- ULTIQA Beach Haven on Broadbeach 

The unique wave patterning on this resort's pool deck can be seen from rooms above and adds comfortable surfacing for all guests who use this amenity.

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United States

LEGOLAND Surfer’s Cove

Surfer’s Cove is inspired by the beaches of Southern California and features its own surrounding artificial beach. It is a unique, enclosed area of LEGOLAND California, perfect for parents to relax within sight of their children playing on the splash pad.

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Courtyard Anaheim Theme Park Entrance

Excited travelers looking to experience the best of Southern California look to the Anaheim Courtyard by Marriott. This hotel is located near Disneyland and other popular attractions. In addition to spacious accommodations, the hotel is proud to offer guests access to the 20,000 sq ft Surfside Waterpark. Many rooms overlook this central attraction that features theming that carries through from the WhiteWater AquaPlay structure to the Life Floor surfacing.

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Dolphin Bay Resort

Framed by the Pacific Ocean and tropical palm trees, Dolphin Bay Resort is ideal for a California beach getaway. Guests are welcome to lounge in the sun on the resort's pool deck while listening to the waves crash against the shoreline a short walk away from the resort.  

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Fun Spot America, Orlando

Fun Spot Orlando is a vibrant family-owned theme park with a beautiful splash pad located in the heart of Orlando, FL. Fun Spot decided to expand on their mission of “Safe-Clean-Fun” and showcase their logo on a larger-than-life scale on the park’s splash pad where guests can cool off after a full day of fun.

VISIT THE PORTFOLIO PAGE

While this list features just some of our favorite vacation destinations around the world, there are countless others. To view more of our projects, head to our Portfolio page. 

If you'd like to see how Life Floor surfacing could enhance a resort or attraction you have in mind, contact us to start the design process!

CREATING UNIQUE AQUATIC EXPERIENCES AT CAMPGROUNDS AND RV PARKS

Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Camp-Resort, North Java, NY

Campgrounds and RV parks that provide access to aquatic amenities such as splash pads, waterparks, or lake shores are popular with campers. These amenities provide a simple, yet fun way for families to relax and enjoy the excitement of camping, while also cooling off in the warm summer heat.

At some camp resort locations such as Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Parks, theming is an important aspect for each location. It allows for branded merchandise, lovable characters, and a complete experience that makes guests feel more welcome and connected.

Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Camp-Resort, Natural Bridge, VA

Theming can be accomplished in a variety of ways including literature, signage, merchandise, and the physical appearance of buildings or amenities. Log cabins, tents, and picnic baskets are strong camping associations for many people, so including interactive elements that foster memorable play can improve overall engagement. 

One way that themes can be incorporated into a park design is through aquatic surfacing design. Varying design iterations on the same surface can signal different play zones while also carrying a theme throughout the park and creating a unique experience. 

Safety surfacing on splash pads and around pool decks can also add to the amount of fun that families have at these facilities by providing cushioning and slip-resistance for greater comfort and more active play. 

As travel picks up again, there has also been an increasing trend for RV travel and guest stays at campgrounds that allow RVs. This type of travel allows for greater flexibility, more options, outdoor family adventures, and tends to be generally less expensive than other methods of vacationing. Aquatic amenities add to this experience and are a welcome benefit wherever they’re featured. 

To get Life Floor quoted for your campground or RV park, please complete our contact form here. We’d be happy to provide you with budget numbers and some complimentary design options.