Connecticut’s Best Splash Pads:
There’s no doubt about it- Splash Pads are a BIG HIT with our family in the summer time. As someone with young kids who can’t swim well yet (we are working on it- check out our list of Swim Lessons), it’s much less stress to spend the day at the splash pad. The kids get to cool off while I get to enjoy hanging out with my grown-up friends. It’s a win-win!
We’re very lucky to live in a state with access to many, many places to splash around. We’ve been hard at work rounding up a list of CT Splash Pads. Check back in the coming days and weeks as we work on adding more!
Photo Credit: Town of Colchester, Old Saybrook, Cromwell
Middlesex and New London Counties
Watrous Park, Cromwell
44 Geer Street, Cromwell CT
Open now!
Cost: FREE
Lots of fun water activities, including water cannons that my kids are obsessed with.
Colchester RecPlex
215 Old Hebron Road, Colchester CT
Splash Pad Open: Memorial Day
Cost: Free!
Right next to a beautiful (And SHADY!) playground is the RecPlex Splash pad- tons of water activities to delight kids!
Clinton Town Beach:
Waterside Lane, Clinton CT
Splash Pad Open Memorial Day – Labor Day
Cost: Parking $25 Resident Pass/$50 Non Resident Daily Fee Weekdays & $75 Weekends. Free parking after 4pm.
Gorgeous all sand playground and fun beachfront splash pad. Not fenced in, but it is right on the water.
Dinosaur Place Splash Pad:
1650 Hartford-New London Turnpike, Oakdale, CT 06370
Splash Pad reopens May 20, 2023
Cost:
- Under 2: FREE
- Toddler (2-5 years): $26.99
- Child (6-17 years): $29.99
- Adult (18-59 years): $26.99
- Senior (60+ years): $25.99
The largest in CT! This zero-depth water playground offers a dynamic, exciting, and safe environment for every member of your family. Over 30 dinosaur-themed features including dinosaur water cannons and dumping buckets that older children and adults just love! Plus: A separate younger children’s play area!
Ocean Beach Park, New London:
98 Neptune Ave, New London, CT
Splash Pad Open:
Cost: Parking for $30/weekday and $35/Weekend
Voted one of the best beaches in the United States, Connecticut’s sugar sand beach also has a fun splash pad to delight young visitors. Older kids will love the water slides, pool, and boardwalk attractions.
Portland Recreation Complex:
301 Gospel Lane, Portland CT
SplashPad Open Memorial Day- Labor Day
Cost: FREE
A family favorite! Kids will love pushing the buttons to make the water cannons go and taking aim for one another. Fully fenced in and a whole lot of fun.
Kavanagh Park
5 Trask Rd. Old Saybrook
Cost: FREE
Adorable family friendly splashpad with fun water cannons.
Photo Credit: Town of Vernon, Somers, Killingworth
Windham and Tolland County:
Connor’s Place/Macie’s Place- Somers:
96 Fields Road, Somers, Connecticut
Cost: FREE
Opens Memorial Day Weekend
Macie’s Place opened last summer, and we went about once a week. It’s got great shade, plus tons of places to play. Nearby, Connor’s Place offers kids a great place to run around and warm up.
Lauter Park, Windham:
557R Jackson St, Willimantic, CT
Cost: FREE
Opens Starting Memorial Day Weekend
This interactive splash pad and waterfront is always a hit with our family!
Owen Bell Park Splash Pad:
580 Hartford Pike, Dayville, CT
Cost: FREE
The park contains sports fields, basketball & tennis courts, splash pad, skate park, 1 mile wooded trail and a running track. The park also has playground equipment & swings for all ages, a small pond, and areas for biking and hiking. Restrooms are available on the premises.
Henry Park, Vernon:
120 South Street Vernon, CT
Cost: FREE
This is not so much a splash pad as it is a really awesome fountain, but our kids love the fountain! It’s an exact replica of the tower on top of the hill. It’s also in the middle of the playground, so parents should be advised that if you go for the playground, you should bring a change of clothes.
Photo Credit: City of New Haven
New Haven County:
City Park, Meriden:
117 Park Ave Meriden, CT
Cost: FREE
City Park offers a fun summer splash pad for kids as well as a BRAND NEW PLAYGROUND.
Lighthouse Point Park:
2 Lighthouse Road, New Haven, CT 06512
Cost: New Haven registered vehicles – No charge; Non-resident vehicles – $25/day, $100/season; Out-of-state – $30/day, no seasonal
Per their website: The series of fresh water fountains are designed to both delight and refresh all who come. The splash pad is located near the beach and adjacent to the bath house. Rules for its use are posted at the entrance.
Quassy Amusement Park, Middlebury:
2132 Middlebury Rd, Middlebury, CT
Cost: $25-42/person- see website for details
Per their website: This colorful and vibrant waterpark offers dozens of ways to get drenched, including family, gigantic and extreme waterslides. Saturation Station features a huge tipping bucket and there is even a splash pad for younger children.
Mayor Peter Villano Park
260 Mill Rock Rd, Hamden, CT
Cost: Free
This huge park in Hamden features a fun playground and splash pad.
East Haven Town Beach Splash Pad:
Cosey Beach Avenue, East Haven, CT 06512
Cost: Free
This town splash pad offers a cool area for residents to beat the dog days of summer.
City of New Haven Splash Pads:
Literally everywhere. I’m fairly certain the whole city of New Haven is about to become one giant splash pad and I am HERE FOR IT.
The city of Haven has like 14 Splash Pads, so I went ahead and just linked their map. Some are free, and some are paid (mostly at the beaches, like the one at Lighthouse Point Park). Should we make a New Haven Splash Pad Bucket List??
Available at both Chase and Murray Park.
Photo Credit: City of Manchester, Plainville, Bristol
Hartford County:
Addison Park
415 Addison Rd, Glastonbury, CT
Cost: Pool Pass Fee Applies, to be published soon
Glastonbury’s Addison Park offers a pool and a splash pad in the same area. Parents should be advised that you do actually need to have a pool pass to use the splash pad.
BroadBrook/East Windsor Splash Pads
27 Reservoir Ave, Broad Brook, CT
Cost: Free
Great place to cool off on a hot day! Be sure to follow their Facebook page for Splash Pad updates.
City of Hartford Splash Pads:
Once again – a city that knows what its residents want! We’re working on rounding up our own list, but in the meantime, WFSB did a pretty comprehensive list of splash pads and cooling centers during the last heat wave.
Olcott Street Playground and SplashPad:
121 Olcott St., Manchester, CT
Cost: Free
If a picture is worth 1,000 words, how many is a video worth? Check out this video of the Olcott Street Splash Pad.
Paderewski Park
93 Cooke St, Plainville, CT
Cost: FREE!
A fun splashpad located next to a great playground and a cute duck pond.
Rockwell Park:
238 Jacobs St, Bristol, CT
Cost: FREE!
Another fun town splash pad- follow town website (or check back here) for more updates on opening day
Town of New Britain Splash Pads:
Various Locations (see website for details)
Cost: Free
Did you know that the town of New Britain offers THREE different parks with splash pads? Do you know how happy this makes me???
West Hartford Splash Pads:
Various Locations (see below)
Open: Memorial Day- Labor Day
Cost: Free
West Hartford is another town with TONS OF SPLASH PAD LOCATIONS!
Photo Credit: City of Bridgeport, Danbury
Fairfield and Litchfield County
Eisenhower Park, Milford
780 North Street, Milford, CT 06460
Working to verify opening date
Cost: Free
We have gotten so many comments about how amazing this splash pad is that we had to put it in! Plus, it’s by an incredible looking accessible playground AND down the street from an ice cream shop. Definitely going on our summer bucket list!
City of Bridgeport:
15 different locations (WOW!)
Opening Dates TBD
Cost: Varies
Bridgeport offers 15 different Splash Pads:
- Alice Street Park Splash Pad
- Beardsley Park Splash Pak
- Columbus School Splash Pad
- Curiale School Splash Pad
- Ellsworth Park Splash Pad
- Johnson Oak Park Splash Pad
- Luis Munoz Marin School Splash Pad
- Newfield Park Splash Pad
- Nob Hill Park Splash Pad
- Park City Magnet School Splash Pad
- Puglio Park Splash Pad
- Seaside Park – West Beach Splash Pad
- Success Park Splash Pad
- Washington Park Splash Pad
- Went Field Park Splash Pad
Ryan Park, Norwalk:
Day St, Norwalk, CT
Cost: FREE
As of September 2019, Ryan Park has been improved with new playground structures, basketball courts, a splash pad, walking paths, and landscaping. The splash pad hours are 12noon to 6 pm.
1 Christopher Columbus Ave (West Kenosia Rd.) Danbury, CT
Cost: FREE
A 25-acre park with benches, playground, Spray Park, 4 soccer fields (field use permit required from Park & Rec Office), non-motorized boating, and tables. No swimming is allowed at Lake Kenosia. The Spray Park hours are 10-4pm and are seasonal.
97 Bridge St, Stamford, CT 06905
Cost: FREE
The Largest Park in Stamford offers a family friendly splash pad.
Do you have a splash pad that you love? Let us know- it’d be great to share it with other families (and also to get to visit it myself!)
Drop us a note in the comments below or email Kate@kidtivity.com
Eisenhower park splash pad! In Milford then drive up the street to cone zone for an ice cream!
Yes!!! I love this idea. I’ll add this one 🙂
Hi!
I do have a splash pad. 😁
When we built our new church in Jewett City, we also built a splash pad to share with the community.
Here’s info: https://gotorc.org/home/plan-your-visit
This is SO COOL! Is it free to access?
I’d love the splash pad list to include which ones are fully fenced in which is a huge help for us special needs Mommas with kiddos who like to elope
Definitely!!! I’ll do some digging. Off the top of my head, Portland, Colchester, and Suffield all are fully fenced in 🙂