Every summer seems to bring on endless questions around what to do and how to keep the kids busy. Most of those questions involve researching vacations, day camps, sports and more. One activity that shouldn’t be overlooked is taking advantage of your local splash pad or splash park. In most cases, city splash pads are free and accessible from late spring to labor day and depending how south you are splash pads can be accessed through to the end of October.
Splash pads offer families the opportunity to get out of the house, spend a day at the park and do so without the expense. They’re typically very safe, with padded grounds and offer a picnic setting so you can take lunch or bbq and spend the day. Most splash pads are adjacent to parks so the kids can play other sports like soccer or baseball.
Splash Parks are a little more dynamic than your standard splash pad offering up a more diverse aquatic setup. Water slides, lazy rivers and wave pools are often found within splash parks but the difference between a splash park and full water park is the cost. Most splash parks are typically run by the city and offer families the ability to access the park at a reduced cost, generally around $10 or so. This is a nice treat for families that may not be able to spend a full day at a water park where admission is sometimes 3-4 times the cost.
Whatever you decide this summer, make sure you take advantage of one of your city splash pads or splash parks. Your kids will love it… It’s fun, healthy and in most cases free!
For a full listing of Splash Pads across North America, visit our main page with parks listed by city. If you don’t see yours listed, recommend it by emailing us here! If you’ve visited a local splash pad or splash park, share your experience with so others can benefit!
