Photo Credit: Courtesy of Rain Drop Products
In 2007, plans began for the new YMCA of the Brandywine Valley, located in West Chester, Penn. One of the goals for the new property development was to create an iconic water play structure that would attract the public. Since it would be visible from surrounding roads, it needed to make a big impression on the community and hopefully drive membership.
“We wanted a unique experience for our members, an experience that wasn’t available anywhere else in the community,” says Chris Wiseman, associate executive director of the West Chester Area YMCA. “We began with a drawing of the water play area to show our members what the sprayground would look like, and after a few meetings we had a final design in place.”
“The very first theme was a realistic pirate fort and a ‘swash-buckling’ captain brandishing a realistic sword,” says Eric Zelman, representative for Rain Drop Products. “The YMCA board requested we develop a design incorporating its mascot, Brandy the dog, and to create a more animated feel to the sprayground design.”