Nestled in the heart of Rome, Georgia, Banty Jones Park serves as both a community gathering place and a lasting tribute to one of East Rome's most influential leaders. Named in honor of Banty Jones, a mentor, entrepreneur, and advocate dedicated to strengthening his community, the park reflects his legacy by providing a welcoming space where families can gather, play, and connect. Alongside a playground, event pavilion, open greenspace, grills, and picnic areas, the park's multi-use splash pad offers a place to cool off and engage in aquatic play that is inspired by the very neighborhood it serves.
Unlike a traditional splash pad, the aquatic play area was thoughtfully designed to resemble a miniature map of the surrounding East Rome streets. Painted pathways mirror the nearby roadways, while actual street numbers are incorporated into the concrete, creating a meaningful connection between the park and the community. Children can run along the "streets" as they play, transforming a refreshing splash pad into an interactive space that celebrates the neighborhood's identity.
The splash pad's flush-mounted ground sprays preserve the integrity of the street-inspired design while creating flexibility for the park. Because there are no standing play structures, the area functions as a traditional splash pad during warmer months and transforms into a completely flat, dry deck when the water is turned off. This allows the space to accommodate community events, gatherings, and other activities throughout the year, maximizing the park's usability well beyond the splash season.
Rather than operating continuously, a Dynamic Sequencing Controller activates groups of ground sprays in changing patterns, encouraging children to chase, anticipate, and interact with the moving water as different jets appear along the street pathways. The ever-changing sequences create a more engaging play experience while introducing basic cause-and-effect concepts through active exploration.
Visitors activate the splash pad using Water Odyssey's Launch Pad, a foot-operated activation bollard positioned at the edge of the play area. A painted visual cue encourages children to step on the bollard to begin the water sequence, reinforcing the relationship between action and response. After a set period of time, the water automatically shuts off, prompting users to reactivate the system and continue the fun while helping conserve water during periods of inactivity.
The ground spray system combines equipment from the Aquatic Play brands to create a diverse and engaging play environment. AquaWorx supplied eight Aqua Bubblers that produce playful arching streams of water, while Fountain People contributed sixteen Precision Jet Nozzles that produce solid streams of water. Working together with Water Odyssey's sequencing technology, the individual features create constantly changing water patterns that encourage movement and discovery.
Supporting the splash pad is a flow-through water management system housed within a protected equipment room inside the park's pavilion. Keeping the equipment indoors shields critical components from weather exposure while simplifying seasonal operation and maintenance. AquaWorx supplied the custom manifold, which precisely controls water flow to each spray feature, as well as a Rain Diverter designed to reduce municipal operating costs. During rainfall, when the splash pad is inactive, the Rain Diverter diverts stormwater to a dedicated drainage system instead of the sanitary sewer. This prevents clean rainwater from being treated as wastewater, helping the City avoid unnecessary sewage fees while conserving treatment resources.
The Banty Jones Park splash pad was made possible through the collaboration of the City of Rome, Dominica Recreation Products, and the Aquatic Play brands. By combining Water Odyssey's interactive sequencing technology with AquaWorx water management solutions and Fountain People's precision spray nozzles, the project transforms a simple splash pad into a flexible community space that honors East Rome's history while creating opportunities for recreation, learning, and connection for years to come.
