CA considers a new way for the community to cool off
Play areas are central to Columbia’s community, and CA is exploring a new, water-centered option. On December 11, CA leaders presented splash pad concepts to the Board of Directors. A splash pad is a water play area that uses sprays, jets and fountains on a flat surface, without standing water.
Open to the public and surrounded by amenities that encourage play and social connection, a splash pad would offer CA a new way to engage Columbia residents of all ages, cultures and abilities. To accommodate a full-scale splash pad, CA would need to replace one of its 23 outdoor pools. During the presentation, CA shared preliminary renderings to demonstrate concepts in three different current pool settings, but no specific pool is targeted or selected.
If the board approves the concept, determining the most suitable site would be a collaborative effort between CA, Columbia’s villages and the broader community. The planning would begin in Fiscal Year 2027, which begins May 1. While outdoor pools are a cherished part of Columbia’s recreation offerings, a splash pad offers many benefits worth considering, including:
- Accessibility: Offering smooth surfaces for mobility devices and interactive features at varying heights.
- Inclusion: All community members could enjoy the splash pad without needing a CA membership. Splash pads are also culturally inclusive, letting people cool off without swimming, special clothing or gendered expectations.
- Community: Visioned as part of a larger gathering space and surrounded by playgrounds, seating, shade and picnic areas, the splash pad would encourage social interaction.
- Extended Use: Splash pads can operate during months when traditional pools may be closed (including late spring and early fall).
- Risk and Cost Reduction: Without standing water, splash pads reduce risk and require less staffing and maintenance than swimming pools.
- Comfort: Splash pads ease the transition to swim lessons by helping build confidence and familiarity with water in a low-pressure and shallow environment before entering a pool.
To see the presentation and hear board discussion, watch below.
Columbia’s founder James Rouse said: “I hope Columbia would never be finished, that the community would continue to develop, and that the residents who would come to call Columbia home would be actively engaged in the process.”
True to Rouse’s words, CA will continue to develop our community for the needs of today’s residents, while asking the community to engage with us in this process. Have thoughts about the splash pad concept? Submit your feedback here.
