Water Factories

Background:

Hippo Leisure has regenerated the Leisure Pool at Woodford Leisure Centre in Hull by replacing the existing pirate themed water play features with
updated versions. 

The new features are designed to increase the level of interactive water play within the pool, excite and develop young minds and increase water confidence.

Play Features:

A new bright and colourful Interactive waterball with ten water jets provide a selection of high and low-level water features to provide fun for a wide range of age and ability
groups. The waterball utilises the existing water supply and its centrepiece is an interactive mast with two arms. The shark arm showers children playing below while the tipping bucket arm fills and then tips water at surprise intervals,to create anticipatory excitement. Toddlers and less water confident children enjoy playing with the fill ‘n’ spill buckets
on the waterball which are filled by a waterball jet and can be rotated by children to spill the contents back into the pool. There are also 2 interactive handwheels which allow
the children to control the flow of water to eight of the waterball jets. Finally, two cannon jets create a gentle flow of water into the pool which children can manipulate by covering up the jets or part of them with their hands.

The waterball is very easy to maintain as it houses a manifold and control system which is accessed via a removable panel on the side of the waterball. The top section of the existing pirate ship themed wall which houses two water cannons has also been refurbished by Hippo Leisure to enhance its visual appeal to children and even adults!

The Leisure Pool has plenty of scope for additional Hippo Leisure water play features to be added in the future to keep it fresh and attractive to children. There is also potential to expand the waterball in the future by adding additional arms and/or joining it to further Interactive Masts.

Project Feedback:

Hull Live’s Kevin Showsmith told Hull Daily Mail after visiting the new-look pool with his son: “Once inside, Barnaby made a beeline for the pirate water slide. I joined the queue of other parents at the bottom waiting for their little ones to slide down. The place echoed with screams of “Again, again!” from the nippers. I lost count of how many times Barnaby went down. Next up, the water cannons. Barnaby asked me to lift him up, so he could be blasted in the face by the jets. Strange child. He was also intrigued (as was I) by a water feature that seems to resemble a deep-sea diver’s helmet”. Kevin Showsmith continues: “My partner and I have been trying to instil confidence in our lad, especially around water. This place is ideal for that. It’s a gleaming example of learning through play. In his own time, when he finally had enough of the slide and jets and when the wave machine started, he ask to go for a ‘swim’ - edging himself along the side of the pool.” 

Councillor Stephen Brady, leader of Hull City Council, told Hull Daily Mail: “I am thrilled to see Woodford re-opening after a fantastic multi-million-pound refurbishment. The centre is much-loved by the people, just of east Hull, but across the city and I know there is significant interest and anticipation among residents eager to try the new facilities for the first time. The new pools offer something new to users and are a fantastic addition alongside the already popular family fun pool. This investment will secure Woodford’s long-term future as a top swimming and leisure facility and put it up amongst some of the best in the region, providing a top-class offer to the people of Hull.”

Woodford leisure Centre case Study