It’s time to throw on the water shoes, put on your bathing suit, and beat the heat! Boston Moms polled real, local moms and compiled this list of Greater Boston splash pads that are worth driving to for a day of water play! (Plus, we have a comprehensive list of Boston-area splash pads — by town — below!)
Ryan Wading Pool
350 River Street, Mattapan
Voted Boston’s best splash pad for multiple years, this DCR park is the perfect place to cool off on a hot day in the city! It has an expansive shallow wading area for little ones, buckets that dump water overhead, and turtles and alligators that spray water. There is plenty of shade and an adjacent playground for kids to enjoy.
Beaver Brook Spray Deck
621 Trapelo Road, Belmont
Fun water features will keep your little ones cool and happy on a hot day! The splash pad sits adjacent to a fantastic playground and shady tables and benches, plus plenty of green space and a shallow stream to explore in the beautiful Beaver Brook Reservation. Tip: Be sure to bring water shoes to protect little toes. The rocks in the splash pad area can get slippery.
Artesani Playground Wading Pool and Spray Deck
1255 Soldiers Field Road, Brighton
This park runs along the scenic Charles River, and it’s loaded with fun! The wading pool has brightly colored water features that are perfect for toddlers and little ones (including zero-depth areas with small fountains), and the adjacent spray deck provides even more water fun. And whether it’s water weather or not, the on-site playground is one all ages will love.
McDonald Playground
8 Cutter Street, Waltham
Though it is on the smaller side, kids will love being sprayed by the run-through water arches and sprinkling snakes at this adorable spray pad! It sits adjacent to a newly renovated playground for a trip filled with fun!
Nelson Memorial Playground and Splash Pad
255 Water Street, Plymouth
Nelson Park is the perfect destination for a summer day! The beachfront playground has picnic tables, benches, and a large grassy area to relax on. Kids love to look for shells on the small sandy beach, and the 5,000-square-foot splash pad is fun for everyone! There are also bathrooms and a refreshment stand, and delicious food trucks love to visit the area!
Freetown State Forest Splash Pad
110 Slab Road, East Freetown
This splash pad in the forest is great for little ones! The wading pool has lifeguards on duty and is handicap accessible. Bathrooms are also available on premises!
Soule Playground and Splash Pad
652 Hammond Street, Brookline
This Brookline splash pad and playground is one of about 15 in the town! We love this spot for its easy parking, shady areas for parents, and restrooms on site. Kids will love alternating between the sprayers, the two playgrounds, and the nearby soccer fields. The red train structure at the fenced-in tot is beloved by all!
Capron Park Zoo Splash Pad
201 County Street, Attleboro
The Capron Park Zoo is a great place to bring the entire family! This zoo is a small park with plenty of animals to see, and it has a large playground and fantastic splash pad to cool off in during the summer months! (Zoo admission is $10 for ages 13+ and $8.50 for ages 3-12. Children under 3 are free, and Attleboro residents receive discounted admission.)
Are you looking for a quick splash a little closer to home? This is a comprehensive list of splash pads and spray decks in the Greater Boston area!
Reminder: We update this resource to the best of our ability each year, but please check each individual location before making the trip!
Arlington
Dallin School Spray Park : 185 Florence Avenue
North Union Spray Park : 60 North Union Street
Belmont
Beaver Brook Spray Deck : 621 Trapelo Road
Billerica
Manning State Forest Water Park : 39 Chelmsford Road
Boston
Alfond Spray Deck : 280 Charles Street
Artesani Playground Wading Pool and Spray Deck : 1255 Soldiers Field Road
Charles Bank Playground and Splash Pad : Charles Street at Longfellow Bridge
Charlestown Naval Shipyard Park : 36 1st Avenue
Christian Science Plaza : 250 Massachusetts Avenue
Frog Pond : Boston Common
The Greenway Fountains
- North End (North and South Canal)
- Armenian Heritage Park (Labyrinth Fountain and Split Dodecahedron Sculpture)
- Wharf District Parks (Ring Fountain and Harbor Fog Sculpture)
- Chinatown Park (Chinatown Stream)
Hynes Playground : 502 Veterans of Foreign Wars Parkway, West Roxbury
Dorothy Curran Play Area at Joe Moakley Park : 1005 Columbia Road
John T. Moynihan Spray Deck : 920 Truman Parkway, Hyde Park
Johnson Playground Spray Deck : Corner of Lamartine and Green Streets, Southwest Corridor Park, Jamaica Plain
Joyce Playground : Union Street and Lynne Road, Brighton
Neponset Landing II Spray Deck : Corner of Hill Top Street and Granite Street, Dorchester
Olsen Spray Deck : 95 Turtle Pond Parkway, Hyde Park
Paris Street Playground : 112 Paris Street
Ryan Playground : 350 River Street, Charlestown
Stony Brook Spray Deck : Corner of Lamartine and Boylston, Southwest Corridor Park, Jamaica Plain
Sweeney Playground : 180 West Fifth Street
Bourne
Buzzards Bay Park : Main Street and Canal Street
Braintree
Petersen Splash Pad at Watson Park : Smith Beach parking lot at Edgehill Road and Vinehill Road (this parking lot for non-Braintree residents only)
Brockton
James Edgar Park : 177 Dover Street
Manning Pool : 470 Forest Avenue
Brookline
Billy Ward Playground : 133 Brook Street
Clark Playground : 195 Cypress Street
Coolidge Playground : Coolidge Street
Cypress Street Playground : Cypress Street and Davis Avenue
Daniel W. Warren, Jr. Playground : Eliot Street
Daniel F. Ford Playground at Emerson Garden : Davis Avenue and Emerson Street
John E. Murphy Playground : Kent Street and Brook Street
Juniper Street Playground : 80 Juniper Street
Lawton Playground : 125 Lawton Street
Longwood Playground (at Lawrence School) : 27 Francis Street
Margaret E. Robinson Playground : 110 Cypress Street
Pierce School Playground : 34 Harvard Avenue
Soule Recreation Center : 652 Hammond St., Chestnut Hill
Jean B. Waldstein Playground : 1 Strathmore Road
Winthrop Square (Minot Rose Garden) : St. Paul Street and Freeman Street
Burlington
Simonds Park : 10 Bedford Street
Cambridge
Alden City Park : Oxford Street and Sacramento Street
Alexander Kemp Playground : 36 Waterhouse Street
Bergin Park City Park : Haskell Street and Pemberton Street
Reverend Thomas J. Williams Park : 2 Cedar Square
Corporal Burns Playground : Memorial Drive
Dana Park : Corporal McTernan and Lawrence Streets
Danehy Park : 99 Sherman Street
Father Callanan Playground : Concord Avenue
Glacken Field and Playground : 600 Huron Avenue
Hurley Street Park : 252 Hurley Street
North Point Park Spray Deck : 6 Museum Way
Universal Design Playground City Park : 66 Field Street
Chelsea
Box District Park : 22 Gerrish Avenue
Creekside Commons Park : Cabot Street
Edson Street Park : Edson Street
Highland Playgrund : Willow Street
John Ruiz Park : Washington Avenue at Bloomingdale Street
Quigley Park : Essex Street
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Swimming and Wading Pool : 184 Carter Street
Concord
Emerson Playground : 261 Thoreau Street
East Wareham
Water Wizz of Cape Cod : 3031 Cranberry Highway
Everett
Allied Veterans Memorial Swimming and Wading Pool : 65 Elm Street
Florence Street Park : Florence Street
Kearins Playground : Meadows Park
John Gramstorf Playground : Florence Street
Swan Street Playground : Swan Street
Hudson
Cellucci Skate & Splash Park : 37 South Street
Marlborough
Ghiloni Park Splash Pad : 239 Concord Rd
Medford
Harris Park : 226-238 Middlesex Ave
Capen Park : 199 Capen Street
Dugger Park : Mystic River Road
Plymouth
Nelson Splash Pad : 235 Water Street
Randolph
Imagination Station : North Street and Pleasant Street
Somerville
Albion Playground : Albion and Lowell Street
Chuckie Harris Playground : Cross Street East and Broadway
Conway Park : Somerville Avenue and Central Street
Corbett-McKenna Park : Munroe Street and Prospect Hill Avenue
Dickerman Playground : 33-47 Craigie Street
Dilboy Memorial Swimming and Wading Pool : 110 Alewife Brook Parkway
Florence Playground : 18 Florence Street
Foss Park : 49 Fellsway West
Grimmons Playground : 87 Governor Winthrop Road
Kennedy School Community Playground : 5 Cherry Street
Kenney Park : 20 Grove Street
Lexington Park : Hancock Street and Lexington Avenue
Lincoln Park/Argenziano School Playground : 290 Washington Street
Latta Brothers Memorial Swimming and Wading Pool : 235 Broadway
Otis Playground : Otis Street and McGrath Highway
Perkins Playground : Perkins Street and Perkins Place
Trum Playground : Cedar Street and Franey Road
Walnut Street Park : 19 Walnut Street
Sterling
Davis Farmland Spray and Play : 145 Redstone Hill
Topsfield
Bradley Palmer Wading Pool and Playground : 40 Asbury Street
Walpole
Center Pool & Wading Pool : 144 School Street
($10/person daily rate)
Waltham
Bobby Connors Playground : Sunnyside Street
Drake Playground : 3 Hazel Street
Fitch Spray Park : 14 Ash Street
Graverson Playground : 16 Pine Vale Road
Lazazzero Playground : 7 Shore Road
Msgr. McCabe / Warrendale Playground : 90 Charlotte Road
McDonald Playground : 8 Cutter Street
Nipper Mahar Park : 65 Dartmouth Street
Thompson Playground : 95 Charles Street
Chesterbrook Housing : Brookway Court
Nipper Maher Park : 65 Dartmouth Street
Watertown
Filippello Playground : 109 Arlington Street
If you are looking for bigger water fun, check out the amazing water parks that are within driving distance of Boston! We have guides to the best outdoor water parks and indoor water parks, too!
The Cape Codder Water Park :: 1225 Iyannough Road Suite #4, Hyannis, MA
Water Wizz :: 3031 Cranberry Highway, East Wareham, MA
Breezy Picnic Grounds and Waterslides :: 520 NW Main Street, Douglas, MA
Cape Cod Inflatable Park :: 518 Main Street, West Yarmouth, MA
Canobie Lake Park :: 85 N Policy Street, Salem, NH
Hurricane Harbor at Six Flags New England : 1623 Main Street, Agawam, MA
Water Park of New England : 50 Ferncroft Road, Danvers, MA
Great Wolf Lodge : 150 Great Wolf Drive, Fitchburg
