YOUR FORUM FOR PLAY, SPORTS UND LEISURE AREAS
Typically, water is a liquid. It is wet, cold or hot, tepid or warm. Water flows, swirls, reflects, sparkles, one can spray or spurt it. There is hardly any other material which appeals to our senses in so many ways and inspires human beings to both touch, feel and observe it. One can smell water, yes and also taste it, and it makes a difference whether it is murky, clear, salty or acidic.
However, water is rather felt than seen. Albeit in different ways, water always creates a special mood or atmosphere. The fascination of water, however, is just one of the many aspects which makes playing with the wet element such a special experience.
Together
Usually, a drip castle is seldom built all on one's own. When someone starts playing, after only a short time more children will come to join the castle building. They bring water or even provide their own buckets to realise the common project. There are hardly any discussions, even during the joint construction of a dam: both young and old players help to realise the project. As if by itself, the necessary tasks are assumed somehow automatically, such as the material procurement, securing the static and plugging the leaks. And when the toy raft is put into the flowing water, it is often the case that somebody else is already waiting at the next bridge to pick it up safely.
Actually, coming into contact seems especially easy for children (and adults) when playing near the water. They share spontaneous sensory experiences, start to interact, even with hitherto strangers. The common goals (a dam) are resolved quickly, even without words. While splashing each other with water a dialogue is established. Even though this is not always based on mutual agreement, usually nobody stays dry. The splashing attacks might lead to both resistance and to the beginning of a common playing experience.
In times in which many children spend a lot of time alone because even spare time is tightly organised and the spontaneous game has become unusual, playing near the water offers valuable encounters and interaction. It is there where age differences are almost meaningless. On the contrary, they can even be of advantage. While the adolescents stay in the water up to their knees, they help the younger ones to balance carefully over the wobbly stepping stones in the brook. That is how even language and cultural differences become irrelevant. Although, there is no documented study, does it not seem evident that playing in puddles and ponds attracts all children in the same way and possible prejudices do not even arise? Because in the water they have more important things to do.
Educational places
While playing, the real life is being tested. The game environment is a place where elementary education takes place, where children receive valuable suggestions and gain practical experience.
The best way of getting an impression of what's a really good playground is taking the time and watch children at play. Neither the size of the place, nor the number of devices, nor the mere existence of water are decisive whether and how children play.
There are other aspects which seem to be crucial. Instinctively, children are interested in any spaces which can be explored, tried out or taken into possession. Regarding water playgrounds this means that the focus is on self-exploration, for instance, on how deep the puddle is, at which point a dam will burst, which material is needed to create the most interesting muddy object and at which point things start to become dangerous. All this is education. Thus, something is learned quite incidentally.
However, these are just observations and cannot constitute a sufficient basis to design a playground concept. Thus, we check the designs by using both educational and theoretical recommendations which are based on contexts of play environment and education. Theoretically, childhood education could be subdivided into different areas. In this context the distinction between somatic (movement, risk assessment), social (communication, empathy, responsibility), scientific (natural phenomena, understanding technology) and aesthetic education (conscious sensory perception, artistic design) is generally accepted.
Hence, from an educational point of view, the special attraction of water games is clearly explicable. Water is a somatically attracting element in which potential risks can be assessed and movement is stimulated. Water promotes social interaction. Water is sensorial, encourages to be creative and teaches about gravity and centrifugal forces. However, a good playground, whether with or without water, should provide education in all of the aforementioned areas.
To do so, it is not necessary to produce a wide range of specific play offerings. However, we find that those devices which only allow their users to just bop up and down, to slide etc. fail to achieve the principal aim. When planning a playground, it should be considered as a space for interaction. The children will create their play ideas by themselves which is easily done by playing together. In other words, one should resist regarding play equipment just in a monofunctional way by thoughtlessly choosing from the offerings of playground manufacturers.
It is much more difficult and at the same time a challenging planning task to offer as many usage options as possible which allow different interpretations and leave room for coincidences. However, the "wumbaba" effect is also available on playgrounds. It would prove the good quality of a playground design if the climbing UFO of our childhood after many years would, for instance, be identified as a stylised dragon whereas the kindergarten mate finds it looks like a troll cave full of nooks and crannies.
"The empire of the horticulturist"
One of the most recent playground projects we have planned and implemented was the play and theme park "Gärtnerreich" in the Egapark in Erfurt/Germany. Within the context of the IGA (First International Horticultural Exhibition of the Socialist Countries) which takes place near the historical Cyriaksburg Castle (today known as the German Horticultural Museum) an extensive and, at the time, modern play area had been created. In preparation for the BUGA 2021, which will take place in Erfurt, the development of a new concept of the entire location had become necessary.
As the playground already existed, we started by creating building structures, such as path ways or the Paddle Pond, a swimming pool for toddlers. Jointly with the children of Erfurt, we developed a play area with a lot of water by using terms and symbols around the typical regional gardening sector. Meanwhile the play and theme park is open all year and accessible to the public against an admission fee.
Although the thematic focus of the park is on horticultural topics, the diverse and flexible usage options of each detail were of primary importance. Immediately at the entrance, water is generously distributed, because the "seeds" need plenty of water. But beware of the big green spout (with lever pump and flexible spray nozzles) which is not just pointing at the play area. And once somebody is hit, he or she may as well join the games.
The correct operational management at different water levels is supported by the Gieska Tubs, which are located under the shady tree crowns and visible from far away due to their paint in signal red. Two hand-operated pumps require a considerable amount of force and coordination because a steady stream of water has to be transported to the Gieska Tubs and then be led into a 15-metre-long system of timber channels (robinia and oak tree). They are of different heights for the different children's size and are accessible for many hands from all sides. At the same time, roll-under areas are well suited for wheelchairs.
Due to the fact that just watching how the water streams through the channel would be boring, we have integrated many planks which allow a flexible regulation of both the outflow and refilling of the tank. If someone pulls one of the plugs (oak, fixed to a wire cable) he or she can hear the bubbling noise of swirling water. Suction and pressure are generated as well as the flow rate and force of gravity is applied in weirs, locks and half-shaft water wheels in a playful way. Nobody would be able to manage the system all alone. As many of the functions are best operated by groups, it soon results in joint playing. Tools, such as shovels and rakes are prepared and hang on cable wires. A huge (drained) sand area absorbs the pools and puddles.
Sling garden hoses are available at the spout to allow the children watering, spraying and tying them up. The water is potable as the children probably will have to quench their thirst whereas in the Gieska Tub area bath water quality will do. The design of the spray guard where the water flows into the channel does not allow holding a cup or one's mouth underneath. Besides, wherever the water touches any ground or materials, it becomes undrinkable. For both children and their parents it will be easily understandable that this water is not drinkable. But wherever water taps or hoses indicate that potable water is available, it is important to guarantee that drinking water comes out.
Definitely, there is no drinking water available in the watercress basin, not far from the Gieska Tubs. Time ago the watercress cultivation of Erfurt was very famous. Today the wet children playing in the water basin resemble in a humorous way the "watercress stems" (robinia): as once the cress pickers did, the flowerbed can be accessed via a labyrinth of wooden walkways. But be aware of the wobbling walkways. If you don't want to step into the (shallow) water you will need all your know-how and skills. Fortunately, the risk becomes obvious as soon as you step on the first bar which will allow a safe way back, if you decide to have second thoughts. Here, too, the flexibility and a tiny spark of risk constitute a special attraction to explore and test this area. Even the watercress leaves (made of rubber) have their charm which can only be noticed by those who have the courage.
The technical and legal conditions of water playgrounds
Playgrounds are areas of experience which permit us to act within an optimised environment according to our own rhythm and without any aims, instructions nor rulebooks. To obtain experiences, it is important to have a healthy self-perception as well as the ability to assess situations and possible risks although this may also lead to possible misjudgements and thus failures or even injuries or damages. To minimise injuries and accidents, which could always happen wherever children are playing, there are some legal and technical aspects which must be taken into account with regard to the construction and operation of water theme parks.
Regarding device and material safety the manufacturers of play equipment are bound by the provisions of the production safety code. However, the operator of a public playground is responsible for its safety. It is him who has to guarantee the construction design is implemented according to the prevailing technical rules and standards. Regarding the construction of a playground, the accident prevention regulations (*German abbreviation UVV, which substitutes the former term GUV since 2014) of the official accident insurance institutions as well as the prevailing DIN and EU Directives are binding.
Particularly for water playgrounds, DIN 18034 is decisive for the water quality. Nevertheless, a certain scope of interpretation of the formulation of the standard is allowed. "The quality (at water theme parks) should at least correspond to bath water quality. In the case of fountains and water wiring points, drinking water quality is recommended. In addition, the legal and regulatory requirements regarding water quality must be observed. Furthermore, regarding water basins the water exchange should be realised in short intervals and according to the relevant situation."
In order to assess the relevant situation appropriately, it could be helpful to consult a specialist in playground safety and the local health unit.
Photo by the company Rehwaldt Landschaftsarchitekten
Project data:
Area: 5.4 hectares
Competition 2014: first prize; completion 1 BA 2016
Builder: German company Erfurter Garten- und Ausstellungs GmbH (ega)
Design: Rehwald Landschaftsarchitekten,
Project Management: Sebastian Fauck
www.rehwaldt.de
Bautzner Str. 133, 01099 Dresden, Germany - Phone: +49 351 8119690
Further information: www.rehwaldt.de
