Rostov''s H2O Aquapark Surges With Success

A year after H2O Aquapark opened in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, the reviews are in: The indoor waterpark has been a major hit among both local residents and tourists. But park patrons aren''t the only ones raving about the new park''s attractions. H2O Aquapark also earned a Golden Pony Award in the international competition among amusement industry operators that is bestowed by publisher Facto Edizioni and Games & Parks Industry magazine. The announcement of the 2014 winners took place in March in Moscow during the RAAPA Exhibition.

Selim Doguoglu, head of the Russian office of Polin Waterslides & Pool Systems (Istanbul, Turkey), said it was no surprise that H2O Aquapark won the prestigious award. "The park has been extremely popular since it first opened. Waterparks are becoming exceptionally popular in Russia, and H2O truly stood out in offering slides and other features that guests love and are eager to experience."

Polin manufactured and supplied all waterslides in the park. The waterpark opened in June 2013 as part of the Horizon Megacenter Mall (also known as the Gorizont) after only five months of construction. The waterpark addition to the mall-the largest mall in Southern Russia-covers more than 24,000 square meters (78,740 square feet) with more than 6,000 square meters (64,583 square feet) devoted to the waterpark. While the mall offers a wide variety of amenities to patrons-including a multiplex cinema, a family entertainment complex, a bowling alley and a fitness center-owner NGO Gorizont LLC believed the new addition would be an important addition to the mall''s success. They invested 1.393 billion rubles (US$45 million) into the all-season complex, which accommodates up to 2,500 people and employs 160 people.

An Extra-Attractive Appearance

Polin''s ability to successfully supervise the design and installation of the waterslides and other aquatic features at H2O Aquapark was eased by its opening of a regional office in nearby Krasnador, Russia. Doguoglu said that being so near simplified Polin''s ability to meet the project''s needs. "We were on-site during the entire process," he pointed out. "that made us immediately accessible in overseeing the entire complex''s construction and being able to handle any last-minute issues or problems that cropped up."