RVA Tots

The weather is warming up and the countdown is on for splash pads to open and water fun to start! Splash pads are such a fun summer activity!

There are 7 free outdoor splash pads, 2 paid outdoor splash pads, 3 paid indoor splash pads, and of course one GIANT waterpark with many splash options! Splash pads are open from Memorial Day to Labor Day, but many often open early and stay open later than Labor Day depending on the weather.

I hope this guide will help you find which one works best for your kiddos!

Free Splash Pads

Taylor Farm Park

Location: 200 Whiteside Rd, Sandston, VA 23150

What we love about this splash pad:
This is RVA’s newest and definitely most unique splash pad in the area! In addition to regular water features on a softer surface (awesome for crawlers and new walkers!), there are turf mounds with misters. The interactive play stream also adds to the fun.

Other things to know:

• I recommend wearing water shoes so kiddos can easily run between the splash pad, playground, and interactive stream.
• Restrooms are conveniently right by the splash pad
• The interactive stream typically stays open later into the season than the is splash pad

Click here for more information on Taylor Farm Park

Dorey Park

Location: 2999 Darbytown Rd, Henrico, VA 23231

You can find the splash pad in the front of the park, next to the Recreation Center. There’s no gate, but it’s nice that it’s almost completely fenced in. There’s a ton to do here in addition to the splash pad, so you can easily add on to your outing. There’s a large pond with walking trails through woods, a playground, and the rec center often has kids classes and events. There are small spouts in the middle of the gated area, with the larger spray structures around the sides

Other things to know:

• The restrooms are located in the Recreation Center
• There’s no shade in the actual splash pad, but there’s a covered picnic shelter right outside of the gated splash pad area

Dunncroft Castle Point

Location: 4901 Francistown Rd, Glen Allen, VA 23060

What we love about this splash pad:
This splash pad is completely fenced in with soft flooring, making it great for crawlers and easy for parents of multiples or parents of little runners. While the water features are in direct sun, there are benches all around with two sun shades that provide shade⁣. You can easily extend your adventure by playing on the playground right next to the splash pad!

Other things to know:

• This splash pad has a ton of different water features: a frog to run through, various fountains, a tube to fill with water, and more!⁣
• There is a button to press on a yellow pole when the water goes off to turn it back on. Be prepared to have your kiddos take turns pressing it and beware that it’s a mad dash/often a fight on who gets to press the button ⁣
• ⁣This is a super busy splash pad. When we visit, we try to go first thing in the morning or late in the afternoon. There is usually consistently a decent crowd
• Restrooms are location close to the splash pad next to the playground

Click here for more information on Dunncroft Castle Point’s splash pad

Eastern Henrico Rec Center

Location: 1440 N Laburnum Ave, Richmond, VA 23223

This splash pad is located in the East end of Henrico and has the most water features of all the spray parks! In addition to all the little fountains on the ground, there are several water structures that fill up then dump water when it’s full.

Other things to know:

• The splash pad itself is in full sun, but there are some shaded areas depending on the time of the day that you visit. If you’re looking for a break from the sun, the picnic shelter has full shade
• The splash pad, playground. and restrooms are all super close together, and the playground has a sun shade. There’s no gate, but it is fenced in
• The Frank J. Thornton YMCA is right next to the Easter Henrico Rec Center! Henrico residents can visit the indoor pool for free on weekends from 2-4:30pm

Other things to know:

• The restrooms are located in the Recreation Center
• There’s no shade in the actual splash pad, but there’s a covered picnic shelter right outside of the gated splash pad area

Short Pump Park

Location: 3329 Pump Rd, Henrico, VA 23233

What we love about this splash pad:
This splash pad is located in the heart of Short Pump. Short Pump Park also has SO many areas to explore and things to do that you can spend a lot of time here!

What to know:

• In addition to the splash pad, there’s multiple playgrounds, a dog park, a pollinator garden, walking trails, and athletic fields.
• The playground is right by the splash pad, but not fenced in, so it’s definitely a bit more challenging here to keep kids in one place
• There are a few picnic tables that do see some shade, but the splash pad and benches are directly in the sun
• The bathroom and picnic shelter are very close by, making it easy to have a snack/take a break from playing!⁣
• The water spouts here feel stronger than some other splash pads. It also gets VERY crowded here and I’ve often seen field trips with bus loads of kids. Keep an eye out for little ones especially.

Twin Hickory Park & Rec Center

Location: 5011 Twin Hickory Rd, Glen Allen, VA 23059

What we love about this splash pad:
My favorite aspect of this spot is the adorable water features. There’s a big tree, and a frog and turtle that shoot out water! The splash pad, picnic tables, and playground are all in the same fenced-in space, and there’s a ledge around the splash pad, as well as picnic tables under shades. You can sit and have a good view of the entire area, so it’s easy to manage multiple kiddos running around

Other things to know:

• The Twin Hickory Library is walkable from the plash pad, and they offer many storytime options. We’ve loved planning our splash pad and playground time around library storytime!
• The restrooms are a bit of a walk away on the other side of the parking lot

Click here for more information on Twin Hickory’s splash pad

Paid Splash Pads

Lewis Ginter Waterway

Location: 1800 Lakeside Ave, Henrico, VA 23228

What we love about this splash pad:
Lewis Ginter’s revamped splash pad is great for both younger and “older” kids. The “little kid” area is separated from the older kid area. One section has a shallow streambed, and another section has multiple sprays and jets⁣⁣.

There is also TONS of shade! The afternoon will see more sun, but at 10am it was almost completely shaded ⁣. There’s also seating for caregivers on benches and a giant sitting wall⁣⁣

Other things to know:

• They often open the Waterway before Memorial Day (depending on weather/temps) and then they’re open daily 9:30am-4pm⁣⁣
• ⁣⁣Plan to go early or late if you want to avoid crowds. By 10am it was very busy. Like most splash pads, first thing in the morning or end of day is best crowd-wise⁣⁣
• ⁣The Waterway is free with daily admission the garden or your Lewis Ginter membership.
• A membership is worth it if you plan to visit more than 5-8 times (depends on family size)⁣ ⁣
• The water turns off when the temps drop below 70°⁣⁣
• ⁣⁣There are restrooms very close by the Children’s Garden. You can also find some closer to the bridge, by the library, and in the building by the main entrance

Click here for more information on Lewis Ginter’s Waterway

Children’s Museum of Richmond

Location: 2626 W Broad St, Richmond, VA 23220

What we love about this splash pad:
SplashMoR is the perfect end to a trip to the Children’s Museum! I love that they leave out toys. There are usually a few tricycles and ride on toys that kids LOVE driving through the water. In the hot summer days, we spend a few hours inside the Children’s Museum, and then end at the splash pad before heading home!

Other things to know:

• There are trees that provide shade on the benches
• I’ve found that this tends to be the least busy of all the area splash pads
• We wear swimsuits under our clothes, making it super easy to go to straight to the splash pad when we’re ready. There’s also a bathroom on your way out of the museum if you prefer to change into swimsuits instead.
• This splash pad often opens up before Memorial Day, so keep a lookout when temperatures rise!
• SplashMoR is included in your Children’s Museum daily admission or membership. To make a membership worth it, visit about 5 times a year

Click here for more information on the Children Museum’s SplashMoR

Kings Dominion Soak City

Location: 16000 Theme Park Way, Doswell, VA 23047

This 20 acre water park has SO much to do for all ages. Don’t count it out for young toddlers either. There are many areas just for splashing!

What to know:

• Soak City is included in your King’s Dominion season pass or daily admission, and they are typically open from Memorial Day Weekend until Labor Day
• It’s just over a 3/4 mile walk to Soak City from the parking lot (it’s in the back of the park). I highly recommend a wagon or stroller if you’re going with little ones! ⁣
• The road and paths can get really hot!⁣ Bring water shoes
• You can borrow life jackets of different sizes for free, and rent cabanas for extra shade
• King’s Dominion gold & platinum seasonal passes pay for themselves in ~3 visits. Gold and platinum passes get 2 free pre-k passes for kids 3-5 years old, and kids under 3 are free

Tips for Visiting Soak City:

• 12-2pm is the ideal time to visit. During the week crowds aren’t quite as bad, but if you plan on going over a weekend, we‘ve found that right over lunch time sees the least crowds and lines ⁣
• Start in the very back of Soak City. It’s a 1 mile walk from the parking lot to the back of Soak City. Start in the back while everyone is full of energy and work your way to the front. This also means you’re pushing a stroller or wagon a lot less far!⁣
• Take a wagon or stroller, but keep valuables at home or on you. We learned this one the hard way as our wagon was stolen. We carry a waterproof lanyard with our phones and credit cards now and leave the rest in the car or at home!

Click here for more information on Soak City

Indoor Splash Pads

YMCA Richmond (Frank J Tornton, Swift Creek, Shady Grove)

Location:
Frank J. Thornton YMCA
3201 Watts Ln, Richmond, VA 23223

Shady Grove YMCA
11255 Nuckols Rd, Glen Allen, VA 23059

Swift Creek YMCA
15800 Hampton Park Dr, Chesterfield, VA

These are such great options for indoor fun in the winter, a great way to get kids comfortable in the water ahead of summertime, and an option for indoor fun when it rains or is just too hot outside in the summer

What to know:

• Pool/splash pad admission is included in your YMCA membership. Day passes are not offered.
• Both the Swift Creek and Frank J. Thornton locations have water tables and slides! The Shady Grove location has a bucket that fills then pours out, water structures, and a water table
• The Swift Creek and Frank J. Thornton pools are zero entry, which is amazing with little ones. The Shady Grove location does have steps but the water is only 2’6″ deep in the shallow end
• ⁣⁣The pool is heated and the air outside of the pool is warm, but the locker rooms are absolutely freezing. Bring towels out with you to wrap your kids up before entering the locker rooms⁣

Click here for more information on the Frank J Thornton YMCA. Henrico residents a visit for free on weekends!

For more adventure ideas around RVA, follow me on Instagram at @RVATots!