For families, the pool isn’t really about the pool — it’s about the laughing, the splashing, the cousins coming over, and the long Saturday afternoons that turn into “five more minutes, please.” At Oak Wells Aquatics, we build the features that make those afternoons happen: bubblers, deck jets, laminar jets, sun shelves, and full custom splash pads designed for backyards.
Whether you’re adding playful water features to a new or existing pool, or building a standalone splash pad for the kids, every project is custom-designed for your family, your yard, and the way you actually use your outdoor space.
Water Features Built Into Your Pool
The most popular way families add water play is by building these features directly into a new pool — or retrofitting them into a remodel. They’re safer than freestanding playground equipment, easier to maintain, and they double as design elements that look beautiful even when the kids are inside.
Bubblers
Small geysers of water that rise gently from shallow areas like sun shelves, tanning ledges, or entry steps. Bubblers are the most-requested family water feature in residential pools today — they’re soft, safe, mesmerizing for toddlers, and beautiful at any age. Most include LED lighting, so they glow at night and turn the shallow end into a focal point.
Best for: sun shelves, tanning ledges, entry steps, families with young children.
Deck Jets
Arcs of water that shoot from the pool deck or coping into the pool, creating a graceful streaming effect. Deck jets are affordable, visually playful, and kids love running through the streams. They’re often installed in pairs or sets to frame the pool symmetrically.
Best for: rectangular and traditional pools, families who want active water-play without committing to a full splash pad.
Laminar Jets
The upgraded version of deck jets. Laminar jets produce a smooth, glass-like, unbroken arc of water — no spray, no bubbles — that can reach up to eight feet high. With LED lights inside the jet, the water itself glows, often in programmable colors that cycle through scenes. This is the feature that turns a backyard pool into a nighttime showpiece.
Best for: modern and architectural pools, evening entertaining, clients who want a premium visual feature.
Sun Shelves and Tanning Ledges
A shallow, sun-warmed platform (typically 8–12 inches deep) at one end of the pool, large enough for in-water lounge chairs, umbrellas, or a few feet of supervised toddler play. Sun shelves are one of the most-requested features in new builds today, and they pair beautifully with bubblers, umbrella sleeves, and dedicated lighting.
Best for: families with small children, clients who want a “wading” zone without a separate kiddie pool, anyone who lounges in the water as much as they swim.
Sheer Descents and Scuppers
Sheer descents are wide curtains of water flowing over a raised wall or ledge into the pool below — almost like a translucent waterfall. Scuppers are smaller versions where water arcs out of a decorative spout. Both produce a calming sound, look beautiful day or night, and give kids an entertaining “shower” to swim under.
Best for: pools with raised walls, spas, or feature walls; anyone who wants the calming sound of moving water.
Standalone Backyard Splash Pads
A splash pad is a flat, non-slip surface (typically textured concrete or commercial-grade safety surfacing) where water sprays up from ground-level nozzles and falls into a hidden drainage system below. There’s no standing water — which is exactly why so many families with very young kids prefer them to a traditional pool.
Splash pads can stand alone in a yard or be built adjacent to a pool. They can be small (a single feature for toddlers) or large (a full backyard “park” with multiple zones). Features can include:
- Ground nozzles — vertical jets of water in adjustable spray patterns
- Themed features — mushrooms, umbrellas, fire hydrants, water cannons, bucket dumps, palm trees
- Spray arches — semicircular tunnels of water kids can run through
- Activator bollards — push-button or motion-activated controls that let kids start the show themselves
- LED lighting — for evening play and visual interest
Two system types to choose from:
- Recirculating systems treat and reuse the water, similar to a pool. They’re more water-efficient, easier to permit in most municipalities, and the only option for larger residential setups.
- Flow-through systems use fresh water that drains away after each use. They’re simpler and less expensive to install, but use more water — best suited for smaller, occasional-use installations where local codes allow.
We’ll help you choose the right system based on your yard size, expected use, water usage, and local code requirements.
Safety, By Design
Water play and safety go together, especially for younger kids. We design every feature with families in mind:
- No standing water on splash pads. Water sprays up and drains away — eliminating the standing-water drowning risk that pools require constant supervision to prevent.
- Non-slip surfaces. Splash pad surfacing is brushed concrete, textured aggregate, or commercial-grade safety surfacing — all designed to stay grippy when wet.
- Sun shelf depths and edges designed for safe, supervised toddler play.
- Adjustable flow rates so jets and bubblers can be tuned to age-appropriate intensity. Younger kids? Softer spray. Older kids? Crank it up.
- Automatic shutoffs on splash pads to conserve water and prevent runaway operation.
A custom-built water feature isn’t just safer than DIY inflatable options — it’s also designed to last for decades and built to meet local code.
Maintenance That Doesn’t Wreck Your Weekend
Standalone splash pads with recirculating systems use the same equipment as a pool: pumps, filters, and chemistry control. Pool-integrated features (bubblers, deck jets, laminars) draw from your existing pool system, so there’s no separate maintenance — they just run when you turn them on. We’ll walk you through exactly what to expect for your specific setup, and our project team is available for service questions long after the build is finished.
How the Design Process Works
- Discovery. We listen to how your family actually uses the backyard, the ages of your kids, and what you want the space to feel like.
- Concept. We sketch options — pool-integrated features, standalone splash pad, or a combination — with pricing ranges so you can compare.
- 3D Design. Your chosen direction becomes a full 3D rendering so you can see exactly what it’ll look like before construction starts.
- Engineering and permitting. We handle the structural, plumbing, electrical, and permit details.
- Build. Construction follows a clear schedule with milestone updates and real-time progress tracking — no guessing where things stand.
Ready to Plan Your Family’s Backyard?
Every Oak Wells Aquatics location designs and builds custom splash pads and pool water features. Find your nearest team to schedule a consultation.
