Lakeview Park

Lakeview Park is one of Peoria’s most centralized parks, but it was missing a key element: aquatic play. So Peoria Park District collaborated with Vortex to bring a Splashpad® to the space. The project filled a gap left by the former Lakeview Family Aquatic Center, which closed in 2017. The new Splashpad offers a comfortable experience for both children and caregivers.

Fourteen unique water features encourage open-ended, imaginative play. The focal point is a Twinsplash dumping bucket that creates anticipation and excitement through its two water wave effects. With Astra No3, from Vortex’s Explora collection, kids rotate a halo of water streams using the Twirltec™ ball to create a beautiful spiral pattern. And Cascade River offers different game opportunities: even the youngest explorers can experiment and learn from the various water effects.

Adjacent to the Splashpad® is a unique CoolHub™ area. Abrio No5 combines seating and the cooling and calming properties of water to create a restorative, peaceful gathering place for park visitors. Designed to be inclusive, it invites everyone to take a break during a busy day, interact with loved ones, or simply seek relief from the heat. On-demand activation and real-time flow control enable efficient energy and water use.

One of the project priorities was accessibility and inclusivity. So the Peoria Park District consulted with the Heart of Illinois Special Recreation Association to ensure that the play space was not only ADA but would be enjoyable for as many people as possible. This is reflected in the spacious flat ground, versatile water features, and evening access.

The new Splashpad® is close to the Lakeview Recreation Center, which hosts children’s camps during the summer. Kids from the day camp can take advantage of the aquatic play, whether it’s a spontaneous visit or something that is built into the camp’s curriculum.

The project was funded using just over $1 million from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, including a $600,000 Open Space Land Acquisition and Development Grant.

Peoria Park District has created a vibrant, safe, and accessible space for all families to enjoy.