free water parks near me

Lawn sprinklers and the backyard water hose are lifesavers as the summer heats up to great and greater temps, but when you’re aching to get out of the house, there’s an easy and inexpensive way to level up the kids’ water play. Plenty of municipal splash pads, spray park and interactive fountains are open to the public and free to access.

Scroll below to see which ones are in municipalities nearest you (we’ve got these listed A-Z). Did we miss one? Let us know by emailing [email protected].

Note that entry is absolutely free for most splash pads in DFW, unless they are located inside an aquatic center or other venue that requires admission. For example, the Fort Worth Zoo’s Safari Splash and Legoland’s Pirate Beach require a fee but are both well worth it during your summer visits. Plus, on your next trip to EpicWaters, don’t miss the Vegas-style water and light show, Illuvia.

RELATED: Kid-Friendly Pools in Dallas

Allen The splash pad at Allen’s Celebration Park features dumping buckets, shooters, sprinklers and more playground equipment. Bring the whole family for a picnic under the pavilion during open hours from 9am-9pm. Except for Wednesdays when it’s closed for maintenance, the splash pad runs daily from May 1 through Labor Day, September 4, 2023. Located just next to the splash pad is the kidMania playground. 701 Angel Parkway 214/509-4700allenparks.org

Arlington Activate the water features at the city’s three spray parks with the touch of a button. All three are open from 10am-8pm daily from Memorial Day through Labor Day, and then on weekends through September. Don Misenhimer Park, 201 E. Lonesome Dove Trail California Lane Park, 2001 California Lane Brantley Hinshaw Park, 2121 Overbrook Drive 817/459-5474arlingtontx.gov

Arlington also has another splash pad, open Memorial Day through sometime in October (depending on the weather) at the Beacon Recreation Center, available for members or enjoy access with a $8 day pass. Open Monday-Saturday 10am-6pm and Sunday noon-6pm. The Beacon Recreation Center, 1100 Mansfield Webb Road 817/575-8340arlingtontx.gov

(Note that Arlington Parks and Rec also oversees the water feature at Levitt Pavilion, but that is not designed for water play and it’s turned off during the venue’s concerts.)

Carrollton The water features run continuously at Carrollton’s city-run splash parks: W.J. Thomas Splash Park and Oak Hills Splash Park. Both are open 9am-8pm daily May 1 through September 30, and both have restrooms on-site. Parents can watch from the nearby covered picnic tables and cook lunch on the tables and grills. 1225 Royal Palm Lane 1955 North Perry Road 972/466-3080cityofcarrollton.com/splashpark

Cedar Hill An interactive fountain offers wet and wild fun within the Hillside Village shopping center, situated in front of Barnes & Noble. On Saturday, June 3, the fountain reopens for the season with a bang during the Splash Pad Palooza. Bring the family to enjoy special activities from 1-3pm on the Village Green. After that the fountain will be open for the season daily during the center’s open hours, except during any needed maintenance. You can always check the status of the fountain online here. Come prepared because swim diapers are required for young children who are not yet potty trained. See their full list of rules here. 305 W. FM 1382 24-hour on site security: 972/637-6303; Management: 972/637-6300shophillsidevillage.com

Colleyville The splash pad at McPherson Park features tipping water buckets, a red windmill that sprays water, an archway (made to look like a frog) that sprays those below and more. Encourage a snack and hydration break under the shaded pavilion. Open 9am-8pm daily May 1 through the end of September/early October. 240 West McDonwell School Road 817/503-1180colleyvilleparksandrec.com

Coppell Bring the kids’ swimsuits when you visit the farmers market in Old Town Coppell at the Main Street Interactive Fountain to get your local goods and produce, and let them cool down by frolicking in the fountains shooting from the ground. Open daily May through September, from 8am-8pm. 786 W. Main Street 972/304-7043coppelltx.gov

Crowley Bicentennial Park offers a 2,000-square-foot splash pad of water fun. This sea-themed park is open daily from 10am-8pm from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. 900 E. Glendale St. 817/297-2201ci.crowley.tx.us

DallasPlan a visit to Klyde Warren Park not only for the remodeled Sheila and Jody Grant Children’s Park but for additional splash time in its new interactive water feature, the Nancy Best Fountain. Located between Olive and Pearl Street, this iconic waterfall fountain with three 15-foot stainless-steel “trees,” 14 “rosebud” bubblers, and 106 small nozzles that create giant “leaves” when they are working in unison. The fountain operates 8am-10pm year-round so long as the temp is above 40 degrees, and it plays melodies starting at noon and 7pm, and light shows in the evening.2012 Woodall Rodgers Freeway 214/716-4500klydewarrenpark.org

Dallas Aquatics offers nearly 20 spray grounds throughout the city. From Memorial Day through Labor Day, enjoy these free water wonderlands seven days a week. Most are open from 8am-8pm, but hours vary depending on the day and location. Click here for the complete list and addresses. 214/670-1923dallasaquatics.org

EulessThis splash pad is currently closed. Check back for updates. South Euless Park’s splash pad features touch-activated and timed water works, such as a raining water bucket, spray poles and geysers. Restrooms and water fountains are in close proximity to the splash pad. This park is open from 9am-7pm Monday-Saturday and noon-6pm on Sundays. 600 S. Main Street 817/685-1666eulesstx.gov

Fairview The Fairview Town Center’s fountain is open throughout the spring and summer season (look on the website for the “the fountain is on” to confirm before you come). This fountain is unique too because it’s staffed with designated monitors from May 26-August 13 to help keep everyone safe. Come to play between 10am and 10pm and to watch the water show nightly at 7pm and 8pm. Swimwear is required, and water or rubber shoes are recommended to avoid falls on the slippery ground. See a complete list of their rules here, including a new one: no frisbees or toys in the fountain. 329 Town Place 972/363-2219fairviewtowncenter.com

Fort Worth Let the kiddos get wet and wild at the Sycamore Spray Grounds this summer. Swimwear is required at the Sycamore Community Center’s free splash park, which features tipping water buckets and interactive sprayers. Open Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. 2525 E. Rosedale Street 817/392-7691fortworthtexas.gov

Families can cool off in Cowtown at Fort Worth’s famed Sundance Square. After shopping the boutiques, snacking at the 30-plus restaurants and taking in the city sights, direct your brood to the fountains in the center of the plaza. Featuring 216 vertical water jets programmed to spurt at different heights, the ground-level attraction is a visual attraction that has come to be a summertime favorite for locals wanting to dip their toes. Designated playtime hours in the fountain are between 11am and 3pm daily. 420 Main Street 817/255-5700sundancesquare.com

Frisco These three spray grounds run on a recycled water system and are open daily May 15-September 30 from 8am-8pm. Frisco Commons has a large pavilion with restrooms and two smaller shade structures with picnic tables. Note that the splash pads at J.R. Newman and Shepherd’s Glen do not have restrooms. Frisco Commons, 8000 McKinney Road J.R. Newman Spray Park, 8211 Twin Falls Drive Shepherd’s Glen, 12012 Shepherds Hill Drive 972/292-6500friscofun.org

Grapevine The spray grounds at Parr Park are open daily from May-September, from 8am-8pm. Spray grounds are motion activated to save water. No need to press a button; just walk onto the pad. Water shoes are encouraged. Adjacent to Dove Park Pool, the Dove Park spray ground splashes kids with a mechanical bucket daily with different operational hours: Monday-Thursday 11am-9pm and weekends 11am-7pm. Note that during the summer months, there’s a fee to enter Dove Waterpark and access the spray ground: $3 per person for residents and $6 for nonresidents. But the Dove splash pad does revert to free admission at the end of the season when the pool closes. Dove Park, 1509 Hood Lane Parr Park, 3010 Parr Lane 817/410-3450gograpevine.com

Haltom City From Memorial Day to Labor Day, two spray grounds in Haltom City offer relief from the summer sun for your tiny tots. The splash pads at Whites Branch Park and the renovated pad at Broadway Park are open daily 10am-7pm, except for maintenance on Tuesdays. Broadway Park, 4839 Broadway Ave. Whites Branch Park, 5290 Western Center Blvd. 817/831-6464haltomcitytx.com

Highland Village Following repairs and resurfacing in 2022, the splash pad at Doubletree Ranch Park will reopen for summer 2023 10am-8pm from May 27 through Labor Day. The modern design uses recycled treated water, looks like a natural creek and employs 15 water features with 66 sprayers and one waterfall. 310 Highland Village Road 972/317-7430highlandvillage.org

Irving Take your pick of the city’s two locations for zero-depth water fun: the Southwest Spray Park and another spray park outside the Northwest Park Recreation Center. Families can enjoy the bubblers, fountains and more spray features, and for both locations, restrooms are available either on-site or nearby. Open Memorial Day through Labor Day each year, typically from 11am-8pm but check back as those times are announced. Northwest Park Recreation Center, 2800 Cheyenne Street Southwest Spray Park, 2800 W. Shady Grove Road 972/721-2501cityofirving.org

Kennedale The 22-acre Sonora Park house a bird habitat, fishing pier, 9-hole disc golf course and a splash pad with tipping buckets of water, stationary spray guns and fountains. Open May through August: 8am-noon and 5-8pm on weekdays (so stay home during the hottest part of the day) and from 8am-8pm on Saturday and Sunday. 263 South New Hope Road 817/985-2170cityofkennedale.com

Lewisville Wayne Ferguson Plaza is an urban park located in the heart of Old Town Lewisville. A linear flowing water feature runs along the boardwalk, which guides visitors around to the event stage. You’ll find the splash pad at the northwest corner of the plaza. Reps were not able to confirm yet an opening date for summer 2023, so check back soon for updates. 150 West Church Street 469/635-5300lewisvillethrive.com

Little ElmYou’ll find Little Elm’s splash pad, with a slide and daisy sprayers, on the southwest end of McCord Park and near the McCord Park trailhead. (See the map here.) Note that no restrooms are on-site. Open from 8am-9pm daily, beginning May 5 and as late as mid-October. Follow the Parks and Rec’s Facebook page for updates. 1001 Witt Road 972/731-3296littleelm.org

McKinney McKinney has seven free splash pads for humans (and one for canines at the Bonnie Wenk Park dog park) and five of them also have playgrounds nearby. These are all open May 1-October 31: Al Ruschhaupt Soccer Complex, 2701 North Brook Drive (has a wheelchair accessible playground, too) Ash Woods Park, 10301 John F. Kennedy Blvd. Aviator Park, 1201 Monticello Drive Dr. Mack Hill Park, 1849 Reagan Drive Finch Park, 301 W. Standifer Street Horizon Park, 401 Flatrock Drive Inspiration Park, 4212 Shawnee Drive John M. Whisenant, 3701 Hudson Crossing Prestwyck Park, 1651 Prestwick Hollow Drive 972/547-7480mckinneyparks.org

MesquiteThis summer the city opens its first-ever spray pad, called the Spray Zone, located at Clay Mathis Park near Creek Crossing. This addition is one of several improvements, including new shade structures and restrooms, additional parking and updated playground equipment. The Spray Zone will operate from 8am-8pm May 1 through September 30 each year. 2181 Clay Mathis Road, Mesquite 972/216-6260cityofmesquite.com

MurphyMurphy Central Park: You know the drill: The splash pad is button activated. Step on the black button (closer to the playground side) to start the party. Restrooms and a shaded playground are nearby. Open 9am-8pm Tuesday through Sunday; closed on Mondays for maintenance but open on holiday Mondays (Memorial Day and Labor Day).550 N. Murphy Road972/468-4444murphytx.org

Prosper Frontier Park is home to a large sports complex and the community-built Windmill Playground, which sits near the spray park of interactive water features. Open daily Memorial Day through Labor Day. 1551 Frontier Parkway 972/569-1160prospertx.org

RichardsonThis fountain is currently closed due to construction. Galatyn Park Urban Center is a mixed-use public space that is home to local festivals, fairs and cultural landmarks like the Charles W. Eisemann Center for the Performing Arts. You don’t have to take in a show to appreciate the artistry on display at the Texas Instruments Community Fountain in the public plaza in front of the arts venue. Kids can take in the dancing jets of water from the vertical water fountain, which is lit at night for maximum dazzling effect, and even get soaked—but maybe after the performance is over. 2351 Performance Drive 972/744-4650eisemanncenter.com

Roanoke The splash pads at Parks of Roanoke and Cannon Parkway Park include colorful archways that spray, stationary water guns and hanging buckets of water that tip. Both parks are open daily from 10am-8pm May 1 through September 30. Parks of Roanoke, 107 Hillsborough Drive Cannon Parkway Park, 750 Cannon Parkway 817/837-9930roanoketexas.com

Rockwall There are three spray parks in Rockwall that feature interactive sprayers and tipping water buckets. To activate the spray grounds, press the top of the white cylinder with the black rounded top. Open daily from April to October, weather permitting, from 8am-9pm. Hickory Bridge Sprayground, 1910 Walnut Ridge Foxchase Sprayground, 4475 Tubbs Road Harry Myers Sprayground, 815 E. Washington Street 972/771-7740playrockwall.com

Southlake The playground at Bicentennial Park is designed to look like a big dragon rising from the ground. Kids splash around by the giant dragon’s head, frolic in the green water fountains that twist up from the ground and duck under small spraying archways. Take waterlogged little ones to the adjacent playground’s swings, slides and zip lines to let them air dry. Open 8am-10pm daily during the season. Exact dates vary year to year, depending on the weather. For 2023, they turned on the splash pad May 1 and plan to leave it running all long as the weather is hot, which could be as late as late October. 450 W. Southlake Blvd. 817/748-8019experiencesouthlaketexas.com

WeatherfordLove Street Park, Marshall Park and the Cherry Park Pool are home to Weatherford’s spraygrounds. Set kids loose to play in the interactive fountains at the first two for free, or take a dip at the city’s only municipal pool at Cherry Park (open daily; $5 per person). Love Street Park, 309 Love Street, 817/598-4124 (free admission) Marshall Park, 119 Palo Pinto Street, 817/598-4124 Cherry Park Pool, 300 S. Alamo St., 817/598-4382 (pool admission required)weatherfordtx.gov

Know of any we missed? Leave a comment below or send us an email to [email protected].

Top photo of Nancy Best Fountain at Klyde Warren Park, courtesy of Carol Vig