In the summer of 2021, my kids were one and three years old. On hot summer days, I was always interested in ways to cool off and my kids were getting bored with the kiddie pool in the backyard. But I didn’t feel confident taking the kids to the pool by myself with their ages and swimming abilities. So I decided to try to visit as many spray parks as I could in one summer.

I discovered my first spray park or splash pad when my firstborn was a baby at Sycamore Park District Community Center in Sycamore, Illinois and I instantly fell in love.

In this post, I’m using the terms spray park and splash pad interchangeably. Also, many public pools are beginning to feature spray features in the shallow end, but I’m providing a list of spray parks isolated from pools.

This point contains affiliate links which means I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you if you make a purchase.

Why I Love Spray Parks

  • Most of them are free – Spray parks located in public parks are mostly free and most of the spray parks we visited were in public parks.
  • Open early – In my experience, spray parks seemed to open earlier than public pools. Most of the pools around me opened around 12-1 pm just as my toddlers were ready for a nap. Some of the spray parks we visited opened around 10-11 am allowing for a good amount of play before naptime.
  • Less risk of drowning – As a mom of toddlers, I feel like I can handle my kids better by myself at a spray park than at a pool and I find it much more relaxing without the constant fear of drowning.
  • No floaties needed – Sometimes my kids fight me when I put on floaties, so one less battle for the day.
  • Less physically demanding for many– Interestingly, I met some grandparents and caregivers at spray parks who endorsed that it’s just easier on them physically to take the kids to the spray park versus the pool.
  • Inclusive – Spray parks are for people of all ages and abilities. I enjoyed witnessing wheelchair users enjoy themselves in the water. I would say the majority of kids at the spray park were younger, but I definitely saw many older kids having just as much fun.
  • More people at the playground – Playground equipment can get really hot in the summer, leaving many parks empty. But hot playground equipment is much more tolerable if there is an opportunity to cool off in the water. My kids love bouncing back and forth between the spray park and the playground.

Tips for Visiting a Spray Park

  • Cost – As mentioned before, some are free and some have fees. Spray parks located in public parks are most often free. Some spray parks are an added feature to a public pool. Some are part of a fitness or community center, campground, etc.
  • Water flow – Just an FYI, the water runs constantly in some spray parks and in others, the water turns off after 10 minutes or so. But not to worry, there is a button to turn the water back on and the kids get a kick out of trying to be the first to hit it.
  • Toys – We like to take some simple toys to the spray park, such as cups, bowls, watering cans, and squirt guns. I saw someone filling water balloons. I would probably advise against that as some balloon pieces started going into the drain. Be sure to review the rules at the spray park.
  • Footwear – I typically kept shoes on my kids like Crocs or Keen sandals because they often bounced back and forth between the playground and spray park. These kinds of shoes dry easily, offer good support, and are slip-resistant.
  • What I wear – I’m sharing what I wear because I know I had questions if I should go all the way and wear a swimsuit or not. I think it just depends on how old your kids are and if you want to get wet or not. I usually get wet chasing my kids around and I like to cool off. So I usually wear a swimsuit underneath some board shorts and sometimes even a rashguard. But, I definitely observed other adults with older kids in regular clothes while the kids played independently. As for footwear, I tend to wear my Keen Whisper Sandals and you won’t find me without my Sunday Afternoons Shade Goddess Hat while I try to keep the play hat on my kids. You can read more about why I love Sunday Afternoons Hats here.

Ok now that you know why I love spray parks so much. Let’s take a closer look at some spray parks in and near Fayette County, PA.

West Virginia

Mylan Park Aquatic Center – Morgantown, WV

  • Address: 1847 Fitness Way Morgantown, WV
  • Website
  • Facebook page
  • Instagram
  • Cost: Fee required
  • My two cents: The outdoor splash pad is open seasonally while the pool inside which also has spray features is open year-round. Memberships are available and splash pad times and pool hours may vary for nonmembers. Call 304-973-9733 or visit the website for more information about fees and hours.

Palatine Park – Fairmont, WV

Pennsylvania

Fayette County

Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park – Mill Run, PA

  • Address: 839 Mill Run Rd Mill Run, PA
  • Website
  • Facebook page
  • Instagram
  • Cost: Fee required
  • My two cents: This splash pad is connected to the other features of the water park including pools and slides. The water park is open to campers, but there are certain times you can access the splash pad and water park for a fee if you are not staying at the campground. Last I checked, if you are not camping, you can drop in Sunday-Thursday for $20 a person (3 and under free, 60 and over are $5) and you have access to the entire campground including the water park. Visit the website or call the resort at 724-455-2929 for the most up-to-date information.

Greene County

Ryerson Station State Park – Wind Ridge, PA

  • Address: 361 Bristoria Rd, Wind Ridge, PA
  • Website
  • Cost: Free
  • My two cents: This splash pad is located in a state park which is something I’ve never experienced in a state park. It is a combination pool and splash pad, but the pool and splash pad are separated by a fence (open entrance to the splash pad). If you have toddlers that you worry might go to the pool for example, you can probably hang out by the entrance to the splash pad and let them roam in the gated area. You must be 48” to go down the green slide. The restroom/changing rooms are beautiful and lockers are available. If I thought sitting was an option for, me I’d probably pack a fold-up chair. The pool is set in the beautiful surroundings of the park which offers 13 miles of hiking trails, a campground with cabin rentals available, a playground/picnic area, hunting/fishing opportunities, and more. FYI there is very limited to no cell service here so plan accordingly. Don’t forget to get a stamp for your PA state park passport. There were some available at the visitor center.

Westmoreland County

Loucks Park – Scottdale, PA

  • Address: Loucks Ave Scottdale, PA
  • Website
  • Facebook page
  • Cost: Free
  • My two cents: I visited this park in the winter and can’t verify whether this is an active splash area or not. But it looks to me like there is a single spray feature. I highly suggest a visit to Bad Rabbit Coffee down the street. You won’t be disappointed.

Allegheny County

There are several spray parks in the Pittsburgh Area. Check out a longer list of Pittsburgh City Parks Spray Parks to explore. Here are some of the ones we visited.

Round Hill Park – Elizabeth, PA

  • Address: 651 Round Hill Rd, Elizabeth, PA
  • Website
  • Facebook page
  • Cost: Free
  • My two cents: This splash pad is located just outside of Fayette County. A seating area with astroturf and sun shades surrounds the splash pad. Just up the hill from the splash pad is a playground with fitness equipment. This park also has a petting zoo.

Beechview Spray Park – Pittsburgh, PA

Troy Hill Spray Park – Pittsburgh, PA

Richland Township Community Park – Gibsonia, PA

  • Address: Gibsonia, PA
  • Website
  • Facebook page
  • Cost: Free
  • My two cents: This is not very close to home but I wanted to make the drive because the park looked awesome and it was. We loved the playground and splash pad combination.

Deer Lakes Park – Tarentum, PA

  • Address: 1090 Baileys Run Rd Tarentum, PA
  • Website
  • Facebook page
  • Cost: Free
  • My two cents: I actually just happened to spot this on the way home from Richland Township. We didn’t have a chance to check it out. But at first glance, it’s a beautiful spray park and playground. The splash pad mimics Round Hill.

Other Spray Parks

With all the spray parks we visited, I find myself sort of geeking out about spray park designs. So if you are like me and like to see what other spray parks look like, here are more pictures of others we have visited.

We found a few during a road trip in the Midwest. Here is a very simple one we found at Southwind Park in Springfield, Illinois. This one just had fountains with no spray features, but even with this simple design, the kids still had a blast and it was the perfect way to break up a long drive.

We also visited the Waynesville Splash Pad in Waynesville, Missouri. With a large military population, a unique military-themed playground was next to the splash pad.

And we broke up the trip home with a stop at Grassy Creek Regional Park in Indianapolis, Indiana.

On another trip, we spotted a spray park at Magic Island in Charleston, WV while strolling the walking path along the Kanawha River on a fall day.

I believe more municipalities in Fayette County, PA are considering or planning for a spray park. I will definitely be on the lookout because I think these are a wonderful addition to any community.

If you found this guide helpful or have information to contribute please leave a comment. Feel free to tag me on Instagram @adventureswkelly so I can see your adventures at a spray park. Have fun and stay cool!