Bigger waterslides, new water spray pads and play structures have increased the fun factor for families at the Water Mine Family Swimmin’ Hole in Fairfax County, Virginia. A $4.8-million expansion project at Water Mine, led by B&N, added more features to the water park.
Originally opened in 1997, the Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) upgraded Water Mine to appeal to a broader age range of children so the entire family can enjoy a day together at the park. The strategy worked – in the months immediately following the opening of the expanded park, attendance increased 80 percent. As a result, FCPA extended the season past Labor Day weekend, when Water Mine normally closes.
The expansion project added three body slides, spray pads, climbable play structures, and new family changing rooms to the facility. B&N’s scope of services included:
- Site civil engineering, including design of utilities, erosion and sedimentation controls, grading, drainage, and stormwater management/Best Management Practices (BMP)
- Surveying
- Environmental and geotechnical services
- Design of a 1,000-square-foot, two-story building that houses restrooms, a changing area, and the pump and filtration systems
- Low Impact Design measures, including three bioretention basins, a bio-swale, permeable pavement for the access road, soil augmentation, and planting of native grasses, shrubs and trees
The Water Mine project was awarded through B&N’s longstanding civil engineering contract with FCPA.
The pool and water features were designed by subconsultant Water Technology, Inc.