Building community: diverse appeal and flexibility make for a municipal waterpark that's sure to be a revenue generator.(Waterparks)

The municipal waterpark has been evolving since the late 1970s as recreation planners have attempted to emulate the various successful private sector waterparks. Eventually, local government leaders became convinced that designing facilities primarily for recreation as opposed to competition would result in greater attendance, higher revenues and a break-even or surplus cash flow.

But a public waterpark differs from its private sector counterpart in several key ways:

* It serves local repeat customers who come to the facility seeking a community recreational experience, often several times per week.

* It serves a smaller geographic area. The primary market is approximately a 2-mile radius from the site.

* It is part of a larger recreation system. Capital resources must be available to serve other infrastructure needs, and it is necessary to optimize the number of people served against available funding.

It was with all of these differences in mind that we designed our dream municipal waterpark. First and foremost, this park would reflect the character of the neighborhood. In this case, we imagined the waterpark with a treehouse motif surrounding an area of historic homes

In reflecting the entire community, the park would meet the needs of a diverse population. For instance, the locker rooms would offer oversized changing areas and showers to meet the needs of persons with disabilities. The pool house, whose octagonal shape reflects the historic nature of the area, would be built with a meeting room that could function as both a minisenior center and a youth activity area.