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Martin Luther King, Jr.
Shelter and Water Playground

Des Moines, Iowa

The City of Des Moines hired the team of Larkin Aquatics and Larson Architecture to design a new park facility to replace their existing fill and drain wading pools. The city has 18 parks with the old fill and drain type pools that they hope to replace over the next few years. Currently the City furnishes all its Park amenities for free to Concordia residents and wants to continue this tradition.

Architectural components of the project included providing an accessible site and a the filter and chemical treatment equipment building, as well as public restrooms and a social meeting room. Larkin Aquatics created an innovative pool design that offers both wet and dry playground fun. The facility includes a zero-depth entry water play area that holds water with a maximum depth of twelve inches, as well as a spray play area with no water depth. Plenty of fun water features were included into the playground-type design.

Through an innovative design approach, the water drains into a holding tank and continues to be filtered and treated during off hours, leaving the pool empty. By not wasting the water each day, the city saved money on both water cost and filling and draining time. Because the park is not fenced, all the play features were recessed as a safety precaution. The concrete bottom of the pool was designed to meet all ADA slope requirements.

Project Scope

• Preliminary planning

• Sprayground design

• ADA Accessibility

• Design of support buildings including filter building

• Site Design including grading, parking, sidewalks and curbing

• Construction administration and observation

Facility Features

• Wet and dry playgrounds

• Zero-depth entry

• Spray play area