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Where can I find academic papers about splash pads?
Quick answer
Search Google Scholar, PubMed, and JSTOR for terms like 'spray ground,' 'splash pad,' 'aquatic play feature,' and 'recreational water illness.' Key journals: Journal of Water and Health, Environmental Health Perspectives, Pediatrics, Landscape and Urban Planning, and CDC's MMWR. The CDC Healthy Swimming page lists primary studies.
A working bibliography on splash pads spans public health, urban planning, landscape architecture, and recreation science. Best search terms: 'spray ground,' 'splash pad,' 'interactive water feature,' 'aquatic play feature,' and 'recreational water illness.' Top databases: Google Scholar (broad coverage), PubMed (public health and pediatrics), JSTOR (urban planning and landscape architecture), and Web of Science. Frequent journal venues: Journal of Water and Health, Environmental Health Perspectives, Pediatrics, American Journal of Public Health, Landscape and Urban Planning, Journal of Park and Recreation Administration, and CDC's MMWR. The CDC's Healthy Swimming program publishes primary studies and reviews. Trade publications like Aquatics International and Parks & Recreation magazine cite primary research and offer practitioner perspectives. NRPA Park Metrics and Trust for Public Land's ParkScore are quasi-academic data sources commonly cited in literature.