Ahh, summer in Texas. Whether’s it’s 8 a.m. or 8 p.m., it’s brutal out there. My 2-year-old went outside with a freezer pop and had a meltdown because it instantly, well, melted down. I wondered if the same thing could happen to a human being, since I also feel like I’m about to melt every time I step outside my house. Thankfully, we have splash pads where kids, especially little ones who can’t swim yet, can run around without melting. If you’re looking for a splash pad in south or central Austin, we’ve got you covered.
Here are all the splash pads to explore in south and central Austin.
Pease Park Splash Pad (Central Austin)
1100 Kingsbury Street
Hours: 8 a.m.-10 p.m.
Pease Park reopened last summer after a huge transformation, and the results are stunning. The splash pad has a lot of natural rock features and jets, as well as some shade and seating. The innovative playscape is right next to it, so kids can alternate between playing and cooling off.
Clarksville Splash Pad (Central Austin)
1811 W. 11th St.
Hours: 9 a.m.-8 p.m.
This splash pad has some shade awnings and a variety of fun features, and an adjacent playground.
Bailey Splash Pad (Central Austin)
1201 W 33rd St.
Hours: 9 a.m.-8 p.m.
This lesser-known splash pad is well-maintained with a good mix of water features, and a retaining wall around it to discourage little ones from wandering off.
Dick Nichols Splash Pad (South Austin)
Ricky Guerrero Splash Pad (South Austin)
1100 Brodie Street
Hours: 9 a.m.-8 p.m.
Ricky Guerrero is one of my favorite splash pads because it has ample shade and a long bench that provides plenty of seating. There are a lot of fun water features to keep kids entertained, and they recently renovated the playscape (though it’s often too hot to use in the summer).
Liz Carpenter Splash Pad (South Austin)
201 Dawson Rd.
Hours: 9 a.m.-10 p.m.
The spectacular view of downtown Austin and proximity to the fabulous Alliance Children’s Garden playground make this a great splash pad. And it’s open year-round!
City Park Splash Pad (Buda)
204 San Antonio Rd.
Hours: 9 a.m.-8 p.m.
This splash pad has ground jets and stone bench seating, but you may want an umbrella because there is no shade. The playscape has multiple areas with different elements to climb on and explore.
Green Meadows Park Splash Pad (Buda)
2357 Green Meadows Ln.
Hours: 9 a.m.-8 p.m.
This relatively new splash area has a variety of water features that are fun and colorful, with a playground right by it.
Route 12 Filling Station (Dripping Springs)
31560 Ranch Rd. 12 #214
This family-friendly restaurant has great food, with everything from burgers to pizza to tacos. Eat at the covered patio right next to a playscape and splash pad.
Dreamland (Dripping Springs)
2700 W. Highway 290
Hours: 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
This huge outdoor entertainment venue has a super fun, fenced-in splash pad with fire hydrants, buckets, water umbrellas, and flower jets. It’s right next to a covered pavilion and playscape. Enjoy a cocktail and some grub while your kids splash and play!
Fischer Park Splash Pad (New Braunfels)
1935 Hilltop Summit Rd.
Hours: 9 a.m.-9 p.m.
Fischer Park has a large, fun-filled sprayground, as well as a playground, Nature Education Center, fishing ponds, and kayak rentals.
