Coate Water splash park demolished to make way for new one

After reoccurring problems, the splash park was finally condemned in the summer of 2023 when Swindon Borough Council announced it wouldn't be reopening as it had reached the end of its life. 

Earlier this years, the local authority revealed plans for a brand new splash park and paddling pool to replace it, confirming that work was underway. 

The space where a less-than-reliable splash park used to be (Image: Craig Poxon)

Now photos taken by a member of the public Craig Poxon show that the old, frequently out-of-use splash park has been completely ripped up and removed to make way for the new one. 

The new £475,000 splash park will include a paddling pool, water features and games and is set to open to the public this summer. 

The council says the design of the new park has been informed by feedback from those who might use the park following a survey and focus group held last year.

Councillor Chris Watts, the cabinet member for the environment and transport, said: “I’m very happy to see work on the new splash park get underway.

“We knew the old offering was outdated and in need of significant repair so the best option was to demolish it and build a brand-new facility for the people of Swindon.

“This new area will be fully accessible and we want to get it open in time for the summer holidays so families can take full advantage of the, hopefully, nice weather.”

The drawings show a large slightly sloped expanse of ground, with the deeper paddling pool at one end. Throughout the splash zone will be sited different toys for children to play with water, showers and tipping buckets and squirting water ‘guns’.

This follows a number of improvements to Coate Water including the painting and restoration of the diving board and a revamped play park which opened last year - just yards from the new splash park - at the cost of £500,000.

More changes are to come as in September, plans for a new Art Deco cafe were revealed,

Councillor Chris Watts told colleagues at a cabinet meeting that the cafe would be in an appropriate retro style, matching the park’s famous 1930s diving board.