Where to find splash pads in Columbus area
Schools are out for the season. The temperature is rising. What’s a family to do?
Have no fear, splash pads are here! Grab your bathing suits and flipflops, lather up some sunscreen and head to one of Columbus’ 17 splash pads and spraygrounds. They are the perfect place for families looking for some fun in the sun.
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The hours listed here are subject to change, so be sure to call ahead or chneeck social media to make sure that the location is open and not closed for water testing, weather or maintenance.
Ballantrae Community Park
6350 Woerner Temple Road, Dublin The splash pad has waterfalls for children to run through and multiple fountains to play in.
Hours: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily through Labor Day
Info: 614-410-4700
Barnett Community Center
1184 Barnett Road, Linwood neighborhood
This splash pad is chockful of bursting pipes and fountains for the family to play around in.
Hours: 11 p.m. to 6.p.m. daily through Labor Day
Info: 614-645-3065
Bicentennial Park on the Scioto Mile
233 Civic Center Drive, Downtown Near COSI, this splash pad covers 15,000 square feet and is fun for the entire family.
Hours: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily through Labor Day
Info: 614-645-7995
Blackburn Community Center
263 Carpenter St., Olde Towne East This fenced-in pad has plenty of fountains to douse children and plenty of sun exposure. Remember to take sunscreen!
Hours: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily through Labor Day
Info: 614-645-7670
Dorrian Green
50 Belle St., Downtown
In front of COSI, this splash pad is named after Columbus civil servant Hugh Dorrian. With multiple splash stations,
it’s perfect for all ages.
Hours: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays through Labor Day
Info: 614-645-3300
Easton
3993 Easton Station
This splash pad can be a great spot to stop between shops with the little ones. It can be found next to Brio Tuscan Grille.
Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays, noon to 5 p.m. Sundays through Labor Day. The fountain sometimes closes for special events.
Info: 614-337-2200
Fryer Park
3899 Orders Road, Grove City With 17 water features, this splash pad is a great addition to Fryer Park besides the hiking and biking opportunities it offers.
Hours: noon to 7:45 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, noon to 6:45 p.m. Fridays, noon to 4:45 p.m. Saturdays, and 11 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Sundays through Labor Day (it is closed whenever the outdoor YMCA pool is closed).
Info: 614-277-3060
Hanby Park
1115 E. Park St., Westerville
Besides being 1,000 square feet, this splash pad has an eyebrow-shaped fountain that has 12 jets.
Hours: dusk to dawn daily through Labor Day
Info: 614-901-6545
Hilliard’s Station Park
4021 Main St., Hilliard
More of a place to get your feet wet, this splash pad boasts a railroad theme.
Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily until Sept. 30
Info: 614-876-5200
John Bishop Park
4815 Etna Road, Whitehall Featuring palm trees and fountains, this splash pad can bring the beach a little closer to home.
Hours: 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays, open through start of school year
Info: 614-863-0121
Lancaster Park
4390 Lancaster Ave., Obetz Splash pad in the summer, ice rink in the winter. This pad offers spraying arches, underground fountains and fun for all seasons.
Hours: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily
Info: 614-491-1080
Linden Community Center
1350 Briarwood Ave., Northeast Side
The newest addition to Columbus’ splash pad collection is open for its second year with fun fountains and sprayers.
Hours: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., daily through Labor Day
Info: 614-645-3067
North Bank Park on the Scioto Mile
311 W. Long St., Arena District
Due to the small size of this fountain, it may be best for little ones to run through.
Hours: The fountain is closed to the public when the pavilion is rented.
Info: 614-645-3300
Partners Park
125 E. 6th St., Marysville
In the center of Uptown Marysville, this pad offers an in-ground fountain among other amenities such as a pavilion and grassy area.
Hours: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily seasonally
Info: 937-645-7350
Scioto Southland Community Center
3901 Parsons Ave., South Side With blooming flower pipes that shoot water, this pad found in Indian Mound Park, is fun for all nature-loving families.
Hours: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily Labor Day
Info: 614-645-3224
Veterans Park
1121 S. Houk Road, Delaware
This splash pad has a dinosaur theme with no sign of splashes going extinct anytime soon.
Hours: dawn to dusk daily through Labor Day
Info: 740-203-1810
Village Green Park
47 Hall St., Powell
With a wide variety of fountains, sprayers and other aquatic accoutrerments, this splash pad is close to picnic tables for a fun summer day!
Hours: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily through Labor Day
Info: 614-885-9820
David Kwiatkowski is a features intern for The Columbus Dispatch. You can reach him on Twitter @kwiatkdm or his emaildkwiatkowski@gannett.com.