3 days ago
Looking for the coolest splash pad in metro Phoenix? Check out these 10
Summer in metro Phoenix can be brutal, but one of the best things about living here is the ability to fight that triple-digit heat with all sorts of cooling weapons, from misters at outdoor shopping centers and restaurant patios to a plethora of splash pads for kids.
Parks, malls and aquatic centers throughout the Phoenix area have splash pads.
Kids can get a bucket of water dumped straight onto their heads at Sunset Palms Park in Glendale, play in the fire-fighter themed Soak Station 309 at the new Rescue Oasis Park in Surprise or cool off at the splash pad near the AMC theater at Desert Ridge Marketplace in Phoenix.
Here are 10 of the best splash pads in metro Phoenix for summer 2025.
This splash pad opened in 2023 and has 15 water features, including giant sprayers, various waterspouts and a huge dump bucket. Its sprinklers are set to go off every 4 minutes.
Details: Noon-7 p.m. daily from May 24-Sept. 1 and Labor Day. 5402 W. Sweetwater Ave., Glendale. Free.
The newest recreation area in Surprise is Rescue Oasis Park, which contains the Soak Station 309 splash pad and the Oasis Swim Center.
Soak Station 309 is a firefighter-themed splash pad with a firetruck that doubles as a slide with hoses and sprinklers that spray water. It also has a hoop with sprinklers to run through and several waterspouts to spray your friends with. And the best part? It's shaded.
The Oasis Swim Center has three pools, six slides, a walking channel, climbing walls and more.
Details: Soak Station 309 is open 8 a.m.-8 p.m. daily through Oct. 31. Open swim at Oasis Swim Center is noon-6 p.m. daily through Aug. 31. 12361 N. Perryville Road, Surprise. Soak Station 309 is free; see Oasis Swim Center fees at
This splash pad is completely shaded and has 15 water features for all ages, including one that dumps water on older kids and the dandelion dome for little kids. Colored LED lights illuminate the pad at night.
Details: 10 a.m.-8 p.m. daily through Oct. 15. 29799 N. Lake Pleasant Parkway, Peoria.
This facility at Hamilton High School has a competition pool, a zero-depth play pool, a 115-foot interactive play structure, a water vortex, a lazy river and two water slides.
Details: Hours vary; see the schedule online. 3838 S. Arizona Ave., Chandler. $1 for ages 2-17, $2.25 for ages 18-54 and $1.25 for ages 55 and over.
A good splash pad for toddlers and younger children with spouts that bubble straight up in varying strengths. It's near Barnes and Noble and has some shaded seating nearby.
Details: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sundays. 2000 E. Rio Salado Parkway, Tempe. Free.
Tempe's largest splash zone is The Cloud at the north end of Kiwanis Park. It's shaded and has water that sprays up from the ground as well as down from large archways.
Details: 7 a.m.-10 p.m. daily through October. 5233 S. Ash Ave., Tempe. Free.
More summer fun coming soon: Water park debuting tallest waterslide in Arizona with 'toe-curling 65-foot drop'
This splash pad features buckets that drop water on kids, a spray tunnel, various floor geysers and jets, and a water-style merry-go-round, plus two shade canopies nearby.
Details: 8 a.m.-8 p.m. daily through Sept. 4, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on weekends Sept. 9-Oct. 31. 101 E. Lower Buckeye Road, Avondale. Free.
Catch a movie, do some shopping, grab a bite to eat and let the kiddos splash around on the splash pad near the AMC theater.
Details: 9 a.m.-11 p.m. daily. 21001 N. Tatum Blvd., Phoenix. Free. park's splash pad has a 15-foot water wall and is partially shaded. Pioneer Park also has a playground, ramadas, a basketball court, picnic tables and more.
Details: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. daily. 526 E. Main St., Mesa. Free.
Every summer, McDowell Mountain Ranch Aquatic Center opens up its waterslide, lazy river, zero-depth play pool and spray pad complete with numerous water features.
Details: 1-5 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays, 1-5:30 p.m. Fridays-Sundays through July for the water park. 15225 N. Thompson Peak Parkway, Scottsdale. $7 for adult residents, $5 for child residents; $10 for nonresident adults, $7 for nonresident children.
Meredith G. White covers entertainment, art and culture for The Arizona Republic and She writes the latest news about video games, television and best things to do in metro Phoenix.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Best splash pads in Phoenix from Rescue Oasis to Pioneer Park
