The park’s splash pad is a journey and an adventure
By Brad Smith
The city of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada, installed its only splash pad facility in the early 1990s on the east side of Waterloo Park. Called Lions Lagoon, the pad was constructed over a former outdoor pool. Over the years, the facility underwent numerous repairs; however, it reached its useful lifecycle and was closed after the 2019 season.
The land surrounding Waterloo Park has dramatically changed over the park’s 125-year history, from agricultural lands on the edge of town in the late 1800s to a large park located in the heart of the city today. Recent growth has transformed a suburban sprawl model to a compact, intensification model. Provincial, regional, and municipal legislation and policy directs this growth within the city center, and along the central transit corridor. As a result, the city has experienced a swell of construction in the Uptown core recently, as former industrial areas have been changed to residential, commercial, employment, and institutional uses, with more residents and visitors frequenting the amenities of the park.