| plash Pad industry is seeing a rapid increase in | | | | city in the United States and it is easy to become |
| sales and success stories. As a much safer | | | | dehydrated, especially walking around outside for |
| alternative to the standard backyard swimming | | | | hours. The zoo’s decision to install a |
| pool, Splash Pads are much safer, more | | | | Splash Pad is a way to encourage children to cool |
| affordable, economical, and, let’s face it, | | | | down, and their decision to put it in a cave out of |
| more fun. While some customers install them in | | | | sunlight was also a smart choice. |
| their own backyards in place of a swimming pool, | | | | •Profitability – A trip to the zoo is |
| many commercial businesses like zoos and child | | | | an exiting adventure for a child in and of itself, but |
| care centers are also benefiting from this new | | | | the addition of the Splash Pad attracts even more |
| idea. | | | | tourists and adventurers than before. Not |
| Communities with numerous families can rest at | | | | everyone has a Splash Pad at their home (yet!), |
| ease this summer; no worrying about water | | | | so it attracts children more than an ordinary |
| safety or double and triple checking to see if pool | | | | swimming pool that many of them already have |
| fences are locked. Splash Pads take away a good | | | | in their backyards. |
| deal of parental stress but don’t skimp on | | | | The zoo is not the only business in the |
| the FUN for kids. | | | | community that has made the switch to Splash |
| The Phoenix Zoo recently installed a Splash Pad | | | | Pads. Several child care centers and schools are |
| from a company called Rain Deck. Matt | | | | purchasing them as well. Multiple children’s |
| Strangwayes, a member of the zoo’s | | | | daycare centers have recently chosen to make |
| staff, helped orchestrate the new edition to the | | | | the switch as well. |
| zoo’s play area called Yakulla Caverns. | | | | Why are increasing numbers of daycare centers |
| This section of the zoo features a replica cave | | | | installing Splash Pads? Owners give a few reasons: |
| where children can enter and learn about cave | | | | •Safety – Child care centers focus |
| geology. To enter the cave, they must walk | | | | on safety and comfort as their premier goal, but |
| through a dripping waterfall, and once inside there | | | | even with small “kiddie” pools and |
| is a Splash Pad area that represents a stream | | | | other portable pools, accidents can still happen. |
| and flash flood zone. Here kids can have fun and | | | | Because the child to adult ratio is so large, Splash |
| learn about geology at the same time. | | | | Pads are a much safer alternative. |
| So why did the Phoenix Zoo install a Splash Pad | | | | •Simplicity – Daycare workers |
| for this hands-on section of the park? There are | | | | have much better things to do than clean leaves |
| several reasons: | | | | and insects out of pools and drain them several |
| •Safety – a Splash Pad is much | | | | times a year. With Splash Pads, there is no messy |
| safer than a swimming pool, especially with the | | | | work involved. |
| number of children that are in and out of the zoo | | | | •“Green” purchase |
| every day. | | | | – Most communities are concerned about |
| •Affordability – A Splash Pad is | | | | “going green”, and installing a |
| predominantly a one-time purchase and | | | | Splash Pad as an alternative to a pool is a |
| maintenance and upgrades are inexpensive and | | | | sophisticated way to do so. The re-circulating |
| seldom. | | | | water allows owners to keep their hose off and |
| •Sensibility – Phoenix is the hottest | | | | money in their wallet. |