Another option might be to restore the basin as a pool with fish, but with a grid custom made for the top until your children can safely play in the area. OR....remove the basin completely. Fill it in. And pave over it for more seating/play space.

I think both ideas of sandbox and fish pond could be fun and enjoyable for kids. But with pond, small kids could never be there unattended. I wouldn't hesitate to clean it and let my own little kids use it for summer wading pool fun. But I'm not sure I'd recommend that for someone else. If they were the kind to do that, they would just do it. I'd probably make a little slide and ladder so they could operate the fun by themselves (while being watched.) I also like the idea of filling it in a making it paving, as that's useful in this small space. Another possibility ... it looks like it's begging to have a statue placed in front of the niche. While that wouldn't be a play thing, kids do enjoy statues. (I remember as a 4-year old being in love with the dark red velvet drapes in our church. For me, it was the real reason to go to Sunday school.)

thanks for the suggestions! I do like the idea of using the structure as is vs filling in (as least in the immediate future), but I think it may be a little deep to be a manageable sandbox (24inches) as is. I also worry critters would get into it without a proper cover.

the statue idea is cute and definitely something I'll consider after I have figured out the function of the space.

thanks and keep the ideas coming!

I was thinking sandbox too for the former pond. Growing up my parents had two sandboxes for my brother and I and they were uncovered on either side of a brick patio. We never had any issues with critters (unless we were putting bugs in the sandbox ourselves to play with). Once we outgrew the sandboxes, my parents converted them into vegetable gardens.

The brickwork is very pretty. You certainly could brick over the pool and make the upper area some type of decorative or vegetable garden.

Another idea: a pond-less water feature / waterfall. That way there isn't surface water for the safety of your kids, but you'd have a decorative feature there and be able to enjoy the sound of water while on the patio. (Disclaimer: I do not have kids so do your own research on the safety of a pond-less water feature for kids just to be safe.)

How deep is the basin? Did you put mulch in the bottom or is that fallen leaves? I think I would fill it with water and grow a taller water plant in it. You would have to continue with the barricade until the children can be trusted.

You could also put that plan on hold and fill it with play pen balls.

You would still have a problem during the rainy time of year.

Clean the well out, put a small cafe table in it, outdoor cushions on the edges and you have a little table for the kids to sit at and their legs can dangle underneath. The table and cushions would also prevent anyone from falling in

turning the pond into a sunken kids banquette is really clever! I was going to suggest making that corner a raised play area - synlawn turf. for the kids. this would simply need pedestal system under gratings and synlawn ontop. this was a project we did in brooklyn using Buzon USA East