Located in southern Arizona, the Town of Sahuarita has experienced remarkable growth over the past two decades, expanding by over 780% since 2000, and is now home to nearly 38,000 residents. With this rapid development came a growing demand for more accessible, inclusive public spaces that could serve the needs of a diverse and expanding population. Recognizing this need, the town enhanced its largest and oldest recreational space, Anamax Park, with a new feature for families and residents to enjoy: Sahuarita’s very first splash pad.
With no standing water and a wide range of spray effects, splash pads are known as one of the most inclusive forms of aquatic play, offering a welcoming experience for users of all ages and abilities. Splash pads are also great additions for desert communities like Sahuarita, where summer temperatures regularly soar into the triple digits. The addition of the splash pad at Anamax Park provides a vibrant and refreshing space for residents to cool off, play, and socialize.
The design of the splash pad draws direct inspiration from the Arizona desert, incorporating Water Odyssey-themed aquatic play features that reflect local wildlife and natural landscapes. Children can splash and interact with the friendly Hector Hila Monster, Lazy Lizard, Roger Rattlesnake, Sandra Scorpion, Kiddy Cactus, Desert Flower, Rocky Rain, and the towering Cowboy Cactus, all of which bring a playful twist to familiar desert icons. These themed splash pad features are complemented by a collection of Essentials Aquatic Play features that provide multi-sensory engagement, including the Water Coils, Water Worm, Solar Spinner, and Shimmer Sheet. Together, they create a rich aquatic play environment of spray effects and dynamic motion.
Adding to the interactivity are Gravity Shooters, which give users the power to control water flow by adjusting the cannon’s angle, and the Water Weave ground spray, which produces an eye-catching basket weave spray pattern across the splash pad surface. For high-energy fun, the Massive Splash delivers a massive SPLASH of water from every angle, ideal for older children seeking a thrilling dump of water from overhead. A four-bucket clover configuration provides 360-degree splashes, allowing for more patrons to join in on the fun.
The desert themed-splash pad is supported by a recirculating filtration system provided by AquaWorx, ensuring efficient water distribution and consistent performance across all aquatic play features. This system not only promotes sustainability through water reuse but also enhances the safety and functionality of the aquatic play space.
The project was a collaborative effort between the Town of Sahuarita, Altitude Recreation, Water Odyssey, and AquaWorx, all working together to bring this exciting new amenity to life. The Anamax Park splash pad represents more than just a place to cool off, it’s a celebration of community growth, creativity, and inclusive play for the residents of Sahuarita.
Photography courtesy of Town of Sahuarita, Arizona
