Lansdowne Park in Ottawa features a striking beacon‑style water splash pad that acts both as public art and a cooling, playful gathering place. Dubbed Uplift, this custom beacon is clad in local granite and brushed stainless steel, and sits at the eastern edge of the Great Lawn, surrounded by 52 (or 55, depending on the source) arcing water jets that shoot in patterned sequences. The splash pad has shallow basins for feet to cool off, collects the water to reuse later in irrigation, and its sculptural beacon anchors the space, reflecting Ottawa’s geological character and built heritage.

This reinvention of Lansdowne Park won the 2016 CSLA Awards of Excellence in the “Public Landscapes Designed by a Landscape Architect” category.

Location: 1525 Princess Patricia Way, Ottawa, ON K1S 5J3

Project Completion: 2016

Feature Category: Splash Pad

Project Owner: City of Ottawa

Partnership: Jill Anholt Studio, PFS Studio, Dymech Engineering

Services Provided: Design Development, Construction Administration

Photo Credit: Shawn M. Kent