The month of May brings the beginning of a new season. From pool openings to hints of summer new and exciting things are in store. For Waters Edge it also brings something truly special, our anniversary, and our eighteenth to be exact! It’s easy during this time of year to get caught up in the constant motion that comes with the territory of aquatics. However, we believe it is also just as important to look back and remember where you’ve been, and how far you’ve come. In celebration of such a monumental anniversary we would like to take a moment and reflect on the eighteen years of amazing clients and successful projects, as well as what has changed and what still remains the same.
Although Waters Edge itself has only been around since 2000, its wealth lies within the extensive years of knowledge and experience of its staff. Founded, by a team of knowledgeable aquatic & civil engineers, who decided to use their previous experience and chase their passion. Waters Edge Aquatic Design was created as a firm unlike any other, with a dedication solely to the design of aquatic projects. From the beginning we’ve always wanted to be a partner to your projects and an advocate to your dreams, which even 18 years later we feel just as strong about these ideals as we did at day one.
Looking back through past projects and seeing how things evolve and how some things remain the same, is a true highlight of this moment. Projects such as the Marshalltown YMCA, located in Marshalltown, IA, and Feaster Park Aquatic Center in Arkadelphia, Arkansas were some of the first projects our team had the opportunity to tackle under the Waters Edge name.
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One, an indoor YMCA project, geared towards competitive & recreational swim, Marshalltown included an indoor 8 lane 25 meter competitive lap pool, and a large recreational shallow play pool. The other, an outdoor aquatic center meant for family leisure. Arkadelphia included a large fan shaped zero depth entry integrated into a lap pool with a plunge area and multiple large shade lounge areas. A lot of the these key elements, still valued by many of our clients are still found today in a majority of our projects.
With new and exciting features being introduced over the past eighteen years such as the Flowrider, themed floatables, log rolls, climbing walls, new signature slides, and unique pool designs, it has been exciting to reflect on the evolution of our projects and the ideas that formed through collaboration with our clients. From renovations such as Chilli Bay in Chillicothe where Waters Edge principals had the pleasure of working on the project before Waters Edge, as well as after. To large outdoor and indoor waterpark projects such as Whitewater Branson, Dodge City’s Longbranch Lagoon & Garden City’s Parrot Cove, it’s amazing how time and collaboration brings on innovation and can create something you wouldn’t have envisioned almost two decades ago.
When I sat down with our founding principals and asked what is one of the things you enjoy most about Waters Edge, it wasn’t a surprise that both agreed it is was making long term relationships with our clients, and seeing the excitement on owners faces as well as the community members when a new project opens.
24+ acres of water surface area designed, 633 aquatic projects, 30 awards, 16 States and 3 countries. Our portfolio has grown to encompass every type of project imaginable, but our philosophy remains the same: a commitment to helping communities grow and prosper through the unique design of tailored dream-like aquatic features and facilities. Cheers to you for the past eighteen years and the future years to come, you are all part of the Waters Edge family!
To see more images of our completed projects over the years be sure to visit our portfolio!