A splash pad or splash park can be a parent’s best friend on a hot summer day. Many cities have adopted the term “spraygrounds” to describe these water play areas featuring fountains and non-slip surfaces. Most splash pads are located in public parks and are gaining popularity as a fun and inexpensive summertime activity. Parents can relax and enjoy watching their kids play in the refreshing spray and of course kids love them too. We’ve put together this list of splash pads in the Greater Houston area to help you plan your summer fun.
Timarron Park, 50 North Green Print Circle, The Woodlands, TX 73389
Timarron Park, in the Timarron neighborhood of Creekside Park, includes a Craftsman-style picnic pavilion that will seat 50, restrooms, free parking, separate play equipment for older and younger children, a lighted basketball court, two lighted tennis courts, play field and picnic areas, as well as a whimsical, floral-themed sprayground. The park is connected to the surrounding neighborhood by two miles of trails.
http://woodlandsevents.com/parks/Creekside-park/timarron-park
May Valley Sprayground, 11598 May Valley Circle, The Woodlands, TX 77354
May Valley Park has a kid friendly Splash Pad or “sprayground” water-fun play area to help beat the summer heat. The sprayground depicts two wagon wheels and above-ground features including the May Valley water tower at the center of one wagon wheel, and an interactive rising flag and horse cannons on the other. The sprayground is situated just north of the basketball court and adjacent to the existing open playfield off of May Valley Circle. The park also has restrooms, picnic areas, and free parking.
http://woodlandsevents.com/parks/sterling-ridge/may-valley-park
Hermann Park, Buddy Carruth Playground for All Children
6100 Hermann Park Dr., Houston, TX 77030
The Buddy Carruth Playground for All Children, opened in 1995, provides play equipment for children of all abilities, most of which is accessible by wheelchair. Designed by landscape architect Lauren Griffith & Associates, the playground also provides a fun interactive water play area, perfect for cooling off. The park and splash pad is conveniently located in Hermann Park with restrooms, picnic tables and many other amenities close by. There is no cost to enter Hermann Park or the splash pad and Parking Lots A, D, E, F, G, and H offer free parking. Hermann Park Parking Map
Click here for Hermann Park Interactive Map: http://www.hermannpark.org/visit/interactive-map/
Hermann Zoo, Kathrine McGovern Water Play Park
6200 Hermann Park Dr., Houston, TX 77030
The Water Play Park, free with your Houston Zoo admission, is more than 13,500 square feet of family fun. This summer oasis has 37 different water play features, from a friendly and colorful sea serpent to a tall ‘fill and spill’ water tree, and a variety of ‘water weavers’, fountains, jets and misters. The design also incorporates private changing stalls and a seating wall allowing families to monitor their children and watch the fun. An advanced filtration system allows them to maintain excellent water quality while conserving water and energy.
Houston Zoo - Parking, Directions, Hours
Website for Houston Zoo: http://www.houstonzoo.org/
H-E-B Grocery Company
H-E-B Grocery Company has generously donated funding to the Houston Parks and Recreation Department through the Houston Parks Board, Inc., to create and build additional spraygrounds in Houston city parks. These are brightly colored facilities featuring equipment that squirts, sprays, mists and shoots water. Children will be able to enjoy everything from oversized flowers that mist to a whale that spouts and squirts water and in-ground elements that resemble geysers. Spraygrounds donated by H-E-B:
- Aron Ledet Park, 6500 Antoine
- Blueridge Park, 5600 Court Road
- Cullen Park, 19008 Saums Road
- Dodson Lake, 9010 Dodson
- Edgewood Park, 5803 Bellfort
- Hidalgo Park, 7000 Avenue Q
- Jaycee Park, 1300 Seamist
- Montie Beach Park, 915 Northwood
Click here for information about HEB donated Parks: Water Spraygrounds Donated by H-E-B Grocery Co.)
