WaterShapes
Urban parks are increasingly being asked to do more than provide green space. They’re expected to restore ecology, reflect local culture, invite participation, and serve as social condensers for entire communities. Gatton Park on the Town Branch in Lexington, KY, is a strong example of how water—when thoughtfully designed and carefully engineered—can do all of that at once.
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Aaron King believes in overcoming obstacles, as he explains in this look at solving winter pool-renovation challenges using controlled work spaces and reinforced PVC membranes. It's an approach, he says, fits neatly with his company's tradition of seeking innovative construction solutions.
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The ability to make snow on demand effectively transforms the winter-recreation industry in areas where snowfall is scarce, inconsistent or even non-existent. Simple in concept, spraying atomized water under the right conditions can transform a barren slope into a skier's paradise.
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Rico Rock has announced its newest addition to the Temple Stone series. The new firepit is made of attractive and safe pre-cast lightweight concrete that matches the latest in outdoor living décor. Roughly 18” high, 76” long and 23” wide, the Temple Stone firepit makes it easy to create a gathering space in any backyard. Hooks up to standard propane tanks. (Shown here in limestone color.) Made in USA and available for immediate shipment.
Learn more here.
Watershape University has announced the 2025 recipients of Grant’s Grants. The program provides courses to military veterans working in the pool industry. This year’s grants were awarded at WU’s “Education Vacation” on December 7 in Phoenix, AZ.
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Waterproofing inground concrete bodies of water has long been one of the primary watershaping challenges and responsibilities. Yet, there are reasons why North America has fallen behind in pool waterproofing innovation, and good cause to believe why it’s now starting to shift.
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When you build swimming pools and surrounding structures on the hillsides of Los Angeles, you enter a world of extremes—steep terrain, shifting soils, strict regulations, and invisible engineering that must endure for generations, all in a place famous for earthquakes.
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Jon Temple is out to stir things up in the pool-plaster industry. One of his most provocative and potentially impactful crusades is all about water-to-cement ratios in mix design and its implications in plaster appearance and durability. It’s an issue he says that needlessly keeps plasterers in the dark.
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As more and more cities and commercial properties recognize how themed aquatic play and inclusive design encourage interactive fun, one Arizona municipality has invested in a creative and efficient splash pad to help residents stay cool and have fun in the heat.
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Off-Season Resets