Background and survey
Choose between the two exciting multi-sensory designs below for a new splash pad in Matlock's Hall Leys Park.
External funding of £450,737 means Derbyshire Dales District Council's Green Flag town centre park will get a new splash pad, together with a new skatepark, refurbished pathways and a new link to the White Peak Loop trail.
Match funding - which is required - of £279,263 will come from the District Council's capital budget.
The two splash pad designs in this survey have come forward from a tendering process and work is scheduled to start in September on the splash pad to ensure the requirement is met to spend the external funding by the end of March 2025. In the meantime, work is starting on the existing paddling pool, which requires essential repairs, to get it operational again for the end of June this year.
Please note that the external funding cannot be spent repairing an existing feature - it has to be spent on something new - so the splash pad selected in this consultation will replace the paddling pool from September onwards.
Have your say in our online survey The survey ends on Sunday 16 June.
FAQs
Will the paddling pool reopen this summer?
Yes, we are working hard with a contractor to get the paddling pool repaired and open ahead of the school summer holidays.
When will the paddling pool close?
The paddling pool will close at the end of August ready for work to start on the paddling pool to be converted into a splash pad.
What is a splash pad?
A splash pad is an automatic, interactive aquatic play area for children of all ages. They are designed to use water to spray, splash and soak children of all ages and abilities in a safe and stimulating environment.
What is the difference between a splash pad and a paddling pool?
A splash pad is a safe and more environmentally friendly way to provide aquatic play. A splash pad will provide more play value, be more resilient, more economical to run and more environmentally friendly due to the lack of water treatment needed. A splash pad generally uses less water than a paddling pool and we will capture the water and reuse this within the park.
Why is the paddling pool being converted into a splash pad?
The paddling pool is 15 years old and is coming to the end of its life. A splash pad is more environmentally friendly, provides more play value and is more accessible for children. The external funding cannot be spent repairing an existing feature - it has to be spent on something new.
What is the cost of this project and where is the money coming from?
An external grant of £450,737 means Derbyshire Dales District Council's Green Flag town centre park will get a new splash pad, together with a new skatepark, refurbished pathways and a new link to the White Peak Loop trail.
Match funding - which is required - of £279,263 will come from the District Council's capital budget.
When will the splash pad open?
The brand new splash pad will be completed by 31st March 2025 and will open April 2025.
How accessible will the new splash pad be?
Read the Equality Impact Assessment - splash pad [PDF 1.1MB]. Every Vortex zero-depth splash pad is designed with accessibility in mind. There is always ample space for turning and manoeuvering wheelchairs - and activators provide audible and visible signs to indicate when the splash pad is turned on. Every aquatic play product is easy to use, with water features and intensities designed to stimulate a child's senses at their own pace.
If the FAQs don't address your query, please email
Designs
Design option 1
Design option 2
Videos
Design option 1
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Design option 2
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Splash pad benefits
- Splash pads do not carry the drowning risks of paddling pools
- Splash pads do not require children/users to be able to swim or be a certain height to engage with the facility
- Splash pads allow children of all ages and abilities to engage with water and to be creative as opposed to standing and waiting for their turn by the side of the paddling pool
- Splash pads allow controlled water engagement like levers, pedals, timers, and clear wet zones so that those with neurodivergent children can decide when and where they are going to get wet
- Splash pads hold features of different colours, shapes, textures, speed and direction of water which invite children to roam and experience water play with interest at different heights, speeds and control,
- Splash pad features invite young people with disabilities and wheelchair users to engage with water play
- Splash pad surfaces are flat and entirely visible increasing confidence whilst in water
- Splash pads are more hygienic with free-flowing water, avoiding dangerous contamination
- Because the water is not treated with chemicals, splashpad water can be recycled in the park for our plants and shrubs
- Splash pads are much simpler and less costly to maintain; the Hall Leys paddling pool facility is 3x more expensive that Ashbourne’s splash pad to run and 5x more expensive that Bakewell’s splash pad to run
- Because the water is never left to stand and simpler to maintain, splashpads are more resilient to flooding. The recent floods cost the taxpayer £20,000 in repairs to the paddling pool. With the climate as it is, flooding has become a regular occurrence and the parks play a key role in protecting our towns
- Splash pads do not require additional labour for testing or weekend attendance, reducing maintenance costs
- Both of the proposed designs feature detachable elements which not only means that they can be removed stored and protected each winter, enhancing longevity, but each year the Council can look to buy additional features to explore more way to engage with water play.
