Waters Edge Aquatic Design

What Waters Edge Aquatic Design does

Waters Edge Aquatic Design, LLC is a privately held engineering and design firm founded in 2000 and headquartered in Kansas City, Kansas, specializing exclusively in aquatic facility projects for municipal governments, Y-organizations, educational institutions, recreation commissions, and private clubs and hospitality operators. The firm delivers a four-module service lifecycle — Planning & Study Services (feasibility studies, master plans, public engagement), Design Services (schematic design through construction documents), Construction Administration Services (site visits, shop drawing review, equipment needs assessment), and Post-Occupancy Support (operator training, maintenance forecasting, forensic services) — on a fee-based professional services model with project-by-project contracts tailored to client scope.

The firm’s technology stack centers on aquatic engineering, including Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) water flow modeling applied by an aerospace-trained engineer to optimize complex hydraulic situations in pools, lazy rivers, wave pools, and slides, plus 3D design visualization through SolidWorks, AutoCAD Inventor, and Revit. Differentiation rests on a distinctive team composition that includes former city aquatic directors, lifeguards, and swim coaches, giving the firm operational perspective that complements its engineering depth.

Waters Edge generates revenue exclusively through direct project engagement initiated via website contact, phone, or outreach. It serves a distributed base of municipal and institutional clients across 12+ states, with concentration in Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, and Nebraska. The firm has completed 60+ projects and earned repeated industry recognition including multiple Athletic Business Aquatic Design Showcase features and Aquatics International Dream Design awards between 2011 and 2026. The company is bootstrapped and employee-owned; co-founder and principal owner Jeff Bartley, P.E., leads the firm with no disclosed external investment, parent entity, or institutional shareholders.

Name

Waters Edge Aquatic Design

Legal name

Waters Edge Aquatic Design, LLC

Website

https://wedesignpools.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Waters Edge Aquatic Design is a privately held engineering and design firm founded in 2000 and headquartered in Kansas City, Kansas, providing aquatic facility planning, design, construction administration, and post-occupancy services to municipalities, YMCAs, schools, and private recreation operators across the United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aquatic Engineering & Design Services

NAICS

Landscape Architectural Services (541320)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYTHAAABAJ

Water Park Design, Engineering & Construction (Master Planning, Build)

Travel & Hospitality/Adventure, Amusement Parks & Ecotourism/Water Parks

SECONDARYTHAAABAE

Aquatic Playgrounds & Splash Pads (Spray Parks, Kids’ Water Play)

Travel & Hospitality/Adventure, Amusement Parks & Ecotourism/Water Parks

SECONDARYHSAPALAJ

Water Features (Ponds, Fountains & Waterfalls)

Home & Personal Services/Residential Renovation Services/Deck, Patio, Fence & Outdoor Living Construction

SECONDARYTHAAABAA

Outdoor Water Parks (Wave Pools, Lazy Rivers, Slides)

Travel & Hospitality/Adventure, Amusement Parks & Ecotourism/Water Parks

Keywords

• Aquatic facility design
• Water flow modeling
• Municipal pool engineering
• Aquatic feasibility studies
• Construction administration services

Headquarters

HQ city

Kansas City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Professional Design & Engineering Services: Waters Edge generates revenue through fee-based professional services contracts for aquatic facility planning, design, construction administration, and post-occupancy support. Services are provided on a project-by-project basis to municipalities, school districts, YMCAs, and private recreation operators. Engagement types include full-lifecycle project delivery and phase-specific consulting.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Waters Edge Aquatic Design is a professional engineering and design firm that plans, studies, designs, and administers construction for aquatic facilities. Services span the full project lifecycle from feasibility studies and master planning through schematic design, construction documents, construction administration, and post-occupancy operational support. The firm serves municipalities, school districts, YMCAs, and private recreation operators with facilities such as pools, water parks, splash pads, spray grounds, fountains, and therapy pools.

Product overview

Waters Edge Aquatic Design is an award-winning engineering and design firm offering comprehensive aquatic facility services. The company provides a full lifecycle approach through four core service modules: Planning & Study Services (evaluations, feasibility studies, master plans), Design Services (schematic design through construction documents), Construction Administration Services (site visits, shop drawing review), and Post-Occupancy Support (training, maintenance, operational planning). Their portfolio spans multiple aquatic facility types including municipal pools, YMCA facilities, educational institution pools, water parks, splash pads, spray grounds, fountains, therapy and wellness facilities, and natatoriums, serving communities across the United States since 2000.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Planning & Study Services Comprehensive planning services for aquatic facilities including evaluations, assessments, public engagement, feasibility studies, master plans, and capital improvement planning. Intended for municipalities, YMCAs, schools, and private recreation operators considering new aquatic facilities or renovations.
• Design Services Detailed design and documentation including schematic design, probable cost estimating, design development, construction documents, and bidding facilitation for aquatic projects. For municipalities, YMCAs, educational institutions, and private clients planning or executing aquatic facility projects.
• Construction Administration Services Construction-phase support including site visits, progress reports, equipment and supply needs assessment, and shop drawing review for aquatic facility construction. Engaged by project owners during the construction phase.
• Post-Occupancy Support Ongoing operational support after facility opening including training, operational and business planning, maintenance forecasting, and forensic services for aquatic facilities. Intended for owner-operators of newly opened aquatic facilities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Park City Aquatic Center project funded by local-option sales tax approved by voters in 2023
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• City of Fountains Foundation (COFF)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Waters Edge partnered with the City of Fountains Foundation (COFF), a nonprofit founded in 1973, to conduct assessments of nearly 50 water fountains across Kansas City, Missouri. The project was part of a $125 million general obligation bond program for citywide maintenance and upgrades, with $80 million dedicated to parks, community centers, pools, and historic fountains. Waters Edge developed standardized assessment forms and visited each fountain site.
• ConfluencecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Waters Edge partnered with Confluence (a planning and design firm) to conduct the Marion Outdoor Aquatic Center Feasibility Study in Marion, Iowa, beginning in 2020. Confluence contributed planning and design expertise alongside Waters Edge's aquatic engineering capabilities for the community-driven study.
• SFS ArchitectureminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSFS Architecture provided renderings and concept images for the Kearney Aquatic Feasibility Study in Kearney, Missouri. Waters Edge led the aquatic feasibility and engineering aspects while SFS contributed architectural rendering support for the community engagement and planning process.
• Landworks StudiominorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerWaters Edge collaborated with Landworks Studio on the Bennett Springs State Park Splash Pad project in Lebanon, Missouri. Landworks Studio contributed landscape architecture and site design, while Waters Edge provided aquatic design for the splash pad featuring a wildlife/nature theme.
• Water OdysseyminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerWater Odyssey provided aquatic play products (play equipment and features) for the Bennett Springs State Park Splash Pad project. The splash pad featured custom aquatic play products from Water Odyssey including a trout-themed sprayer and diverse sculptural water features.
• DRAW ArchitectureminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerWaters Edge worked with DRAW Architecture to design the spa baths at Klā Sanctuary in Kansas City, Missouri. DRAW Architecture served as the lead architect for the project while Waters Edge provided specialized aquatic and bathhouse engineering and design for the thermal experiences including therme bath, warm bath, mineral float bath, cold bath, infrared sauna, and herbal steam room.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• HDR Inc. Omaha-based AE firm with water, parks, and recreation practices; competes in adjacent Midwest municipal markets and could pursue aquatic facility work given its water and civil engineering capabilities.
• Kimley-Horn: Major U.S. planning/engineering firm with active recreation and aquatics practice; competes with Waters Edge on municipal feasibility studies and aquatic facility design where broader civil capabilities are also required.
• Burns & McDonnell: Kansas City-headquartered AE firm with municipal water and recreation practice — geographically adjacent incumbent that occasionally competes on aquatic planning within the same client base.
• Stantec: Global architecture/engineering firm with a dedicated aquatic/recreation practice serving municipal park departments; comparable overlap on large municipal aquatic projects, though Stantec is a generalist AE rather than aquatic-specialist.

Direct peers

• Counsilman-Hunsaker: St. Louis-based aquatic consulting firm specializing in planning, design, and operational consulting for pools, water parks, and natatoriums; competes head-to-head with Waters Edge for municipal and institutional aquatic projects across the U.S.
• Aquatic Design Group: Aquatic-focused consulting and engineering firm offering design, feasibility, and master planning for pools, splash pads, and waterparks; competes with Waters Edge for the same municipal and YMCA-type engagements.
• Lose Design: Aquatic design firm providing master planning, design, and renovation services for municipal pools, water parks, and splash pads; competes directly for the same government and institutional RFPs as Waters Edge.
• Water Technology Inc. (WTI): Beaver Dam, WI-based aquatic design and engineering firm offering planning, design, and equipment services for pools, waterparks, and aquatic facilities — virtually identical service mix to Waters Edge and a benchmark Midwestern competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/watersedgeaquaticdesign
• Xx.com/WatersEdgePools

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Waters Edge Aquatic Design