Best Recreational Pond / Swim Pond

This award recognizes an exceptional recreational pond designed for swimming, relaxation, and meaningful interaction with water. The project should successfully combine the recreational functionality of a swimming pool with the beauty, character, and landscape integration of a pond or natural body of water.

The strongest entries will demonstrate outstanding design, water quality, technical execution, craftsmanship, user experience, and long-term maintainability.

Eligibility Requirements

• The entry must be a completed recreational pond or swim pond designed and constructed by a professional pond builder or company.
• The project must have been substantially completed within the award program’s eligible timeframe—between Nov. 1, 2025 and Nov. 1, 2026 for the 2026 awards. 
• The pond must be intentionally designed to support swimming, wading, or other recreational interaction with the water.
• Eligible projects may include, but are not limited to:
  • Natural swim ponds/pools
  • Recreational ponds
  • Hybrid pool-and-pond systems
  • Biologically filtered swimming ponds
  • Recreational ponds with separate regeneration or planting zones
  • Formal swim ponds
  • Recreational ponds incorporating waterfalls, streams, beaches, jumping rocks, docks, or underwater seating
• Traditional chemically treated swimming pools without meaningful pond, biological, ecological, or water-feature elements may be better suited for another award program.
• The project should demonstrate intentional recreational and environmental design through elements such as, but not limited to:
  • Clean, clear, and appropriately treated water
  • Effective biological and mechanical filtration
  • Proper circulation and hydraulic design
  • Appropriate pond depth, scale, and proportions
  • Safe and practical entry and exit points
  • Clearly planned swimming and regeneration zones, when applicable
  • Stable underwater surfaces and structural elements
  • Thoughtful stonework and edge treatments
  • Integration with the surrounding landscape and architecture
  • Aquatic or surrounding plantings, when applicable
  • Comfortable areas for swimming, wading, lounging, relaxing, and gathering
  • Concealed or thoughtfully integrated mechanical components
  • Innovation and creativity for the space
• The project must comply with the codes and safety requirements applicable to its location.
• Manufacturer names, company branding, logos, and watermarks must not appear in the judged materials.

Submission Materials

Applicants should provide:

• A project narrative explaining:
  • The client’s recreational and aesthetic goals.
  • How the pond was designed for swimming, relaxation, or other recreational use.
  • How the project complements the surrounding landscape and architecture.
  • The filtration, circulation, and water-treatment approach.
  • How swimming, planting, regeneration, and mechanical zones were incorporated, when applicable.
  • The materials and construction techniques used.
  • How entry, exit, depth changes, underwater surfaces, and other user considerations were addressed.
  • Any site, structural, hydraulic, water-quality, or construction challenges that were overcome.
  • How the pond is maintained throughout the swimming season.
  • What makes the project award-worthy.
• Four to six high-quality photographs, including:
  • At least one image showing the entire completed recreational pond.
  • Images demonstrating the pond’s relationship to the surrounding property.
  • Images of the primary swimming or recreational area.
  • Detailed images of entrances, exits, edges, stonework, plantings, and transitions.
  • Optional before and construction photographs.
  • Seasonal or matured photographs, if available.
• A basic project plan or diagram identifying, when applicable:
  • Swimming areas
  • Depth transitions
  • Entry and exit points
  • Regeneration or planting zones
  • Filtration and circulation components
• One optional unbranded video demonstrating the completed pond, water movement, and recreational experience.
• Optional drone photography when it helps judges understand the pond’s overall layout and relationship to the property.

The deadline to submit entries for the 2026 Water Artisan of the Year Awards is Dec. 1, 2026.

Defining an Exceptional Recreational Pond

An exceptional recreational pond should provide an enjoyable and functional swimming experience while maintaining the visual character of a pond or naturally inspired body of water. It should feel appropriate for its setting and demonstrate a thoughtful balance between recreation, aesthetics, water quality, environmental consideration, and long-term performance.

The strongest projects will feature clean and inviting water, intuitive access, well-designed recreational areas, effective circulation and filtration, durable construction, and seamless integration with the surrounding landscape.

Best Recreational Pond / Swim Pond Rubric

Guiding Judge Question

Does this recreational pond provide an exceptional swimming and leisure experience while successfully balancing water quality, thoughtful design, craftsmanship, environmental integration, and reliable long-term performance?

Category	Points	What Judges Look For
Recreational Design & User Experience	20	How successfully the pond supports swimming, wading, relaxation, and gathering. Judges consider the layout of recreational areas, usable space, depth planning, comfort, accessibility, entry and exit points, and fulfillment of the client’s goals.
Water Quality, Filtration & Ecological Performance	20	Water clarity and quality, biological and mechanical filtration, circulation, nutrient management, ecological balance, and the effectiveness of regeneration or planting zones when used.
Landscape Integration & Overall Design	20	How successfully the pond’s shape, scale, materials, plantings, and placement complement the surrounding terrain and architecture. Judges consider whether naturalistic or formal design choices are cohesive and appropriate for the setting.
Craftsmanship, Materials & Finishing	20	Construction quality, underwater surfaces, stonework, edge treatments, liner or membrane concealment, transitions, finish quality, durability, and attention to detail throughout the project.
Overall Visual Impact	10	The project’s overall beauty, cohesiveness, maturity, presentation, and ability to create a memorable recreational and visual experience.
Total	100