The heat of summer is just around the corner, and there’s no better time to hit the nearest watering hole and cool off.
Splash pads and wading pools offer families with young children the perfect antidote to the summer heat.
Splash pad season typically runs from Memorial Day through Labor Day (see exceptions below). Here are the area splash pads and wading pools in the Milwaukee area that are open now:
Elm Grove Village Pool & Splash Pad
13600 Juneau Blvd., Elm Grove, WI 53122
elmgrovewi.org
The Elm Grove Village Pool and Splash Pad are back fro more water fun this year. Kids will find more than a half a dozen spraying water features, plus plenty of shaded seating areas to cool down.
Check their website for the latest hours.
The Grove at Village Park
W244N6125 Weaver Dr., Sussex, WI 53089
villagesussex.org
The 5,200-square-foot inclusive splash pad features three different areas of play: active, family and toddler. Open from the Friday before Memorial Day through Labor Day, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. or dusk, whichever is earlier.
Other features of Village Park include an inclusive playground, multi-sport courts, and a pavilion with rentable indoor and outdoor spaces.
Hart Park Playground & Splash Pad
7300 Chestnut St., Wauwatosa, WI 53213
wauwatosa.net
The Splash Pad in Hart Park is adjacent to a natural-themed, all-access playground with log balance beams, climbing ropes, and an eagle’s nest. There is a park pavilion nearby for bathroom breaks and changing.
You can also make an afternoon of it by exploring the surrounding park and perusing the charming downtown Wauwatosa area nearby.
Hickory Park Splash Pad (Currently Closed for Repairs)
N165 W20290 Hickory Ln, Jackson, WI 53037
jacksonparkrec.recdesk.com
This fenced-in Splash Pad is located just outside the Jackson Community Center. It has tropical motifs with tall palm trees and the illusion of a shipwreck.
It is open to the public every day from Memorial Day to Labor Day, 10:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m.
Kinderberg Park Sprayground
N106W14937 Buckthorn Dr., Germantown, WI 53022
village.germantown.wi.us
The colorful sprayground is located in Kinderberg Park, and it’s open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Lake Country Rotary Splash Pad
175 E. Park Ave, Hartland, WI 53029
villageofhartland.com
Located in Nixon Park, the Splash Pad is free to kids of all ages and is open from 10:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. daily, from Memorial Day weekend through September 26. If the spray jets are inactive or time out while you’re there, just touch the flower near the entrance to get the water flowing again. The pad is surrounded by three picnic shelters that may be rented out for birthday parties and other private events.
Oak Creek Splash Pad
361 W. Town Square Way, Oak Creek, WI 53154
oakcreekwi.gov
This splash pad is part of the Drexel Town Square shopping center, which boasts a City Hall, Library, and lots of retail shops and restaurants. Open Memorial Day through Labor Day from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., this community space has pedestrian-friendly walkways.
Regner Park Rotary Splash Pad
800 N. Main St., West Bend, WI 53095
ci.west-bend.wi.us
There’s something for the whole family at Regner Park in West Bend. In addition to the splash pad, there’s a swimming beach, a café with food and beverage concessions, a fish pond, playgrounds, athletic fields, a labyrinth, paved walkways and more. Wristbands are required! It’s open daily from noon to 5:00 p.m., Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Fireman’s Park Splash Pad
645 Baehring Dr., Slinger, WI 53086
vi.slinger.wi.gov
In 2021, the Village of Slinger installed a brand new splash pad and playground where a swimming pond used to be (Fireman’s Park Beach).
See if you can spot the turtle slide that was rescued from the old beach.
Running short on battery from taking too many photos and videos of your kids splashing around? The red park benches double as solar charging stations.
The splash pad is open from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. daily during the summer.
Milwaukee County Parks
Select Splash Pads and Wading Pools will be open in Milwaukee County Parks in 2024.
Splash Pads- Tentatively 8 Sites Scheduled to Open from June 20th-August 18th from 11am-4pm Daily
- Carver Splash Pad, 911 W. Brown St.
- Clarke Square Splash Pad, 2330 W. Vieau Place
- Dineen Splash Pad, 6901 W. Vienna Ave.
- Lucille Berrien Splash Pad, 3629 N. 16th St.
- Gordon Splash Pad, 2828 N. Humboldt Blvd.
- Madison Splash Pad, 9800 W. Glendale Ave.
- Moody Splash Pad, 2201 W. Auer Ave.
- Washington Splash Pad, 1859 N. 40th St. (operated by Urban Ecology Center)
Wading Pools – Tentatively 24 Sites Scheduled to Open from June 20th-August 18th from 11am-4pm Daily
- Alcott Wader, 3751 S. 97th St.
- Algonquin Wader, 7850 N. 51st St.
- Cooper Wader, 8701 W. Chambers St.
- Greene Wader, 4235 S. Lipton Ave.
- Hales Corners Wader, 5765 S. New Berlin Road
- Harriet Tubman Wader, 4750 N. 48 St.
- Humboldt Wader, 3000 S. Howell Ave.
- Indigenous Peoples Wader, 7301 W. Courtland Ave.
- Jacobus Wader, 6501 W. Hillside Lane
- Kops Wader, 7603 W. County Line Road
- La Follette Wader, 9418 W. Washington St.
- Lindsay Wader, 4360 N. 87th St
- Lyons Wader, 3301 S. 55th St.
- Mitchell Wader, 524 S. Layton Blvd.
- Pulaski Cudahy Wader, 5400 S. Swift Ave.
- Rainbow Wader, 700 S. 119th St.
- Saveland Wader, 3700 S. Second St.
- Sheridan Wader, 4800 S. Lake Drive
- Smith Wader, 5462 N. 33rd St.
- Tiefenthaler Wader, 2501 W. Galena St.
- Tippecanoe Wader, 1411 E. Warnimont Ave.
- Walker Square Wader, 1031 S. Ninth St.
- Wedgewood Wader, 7201 W. Wedgewood Drive
- West Milwaukee Wader, 5000 W. Burnham St.
For the most up-to-date list of neighborhood splash pads and wading pools throughout the Milwaukee County Parks system, go to countyparks.com. For current open statuses, visit the Milwaukee County Parks website.
Not currently open: Fiserv Forum Fountain
The Milwaukee Bucks opened an outdoor fountain, complete with LED lights and music, near the site of the old BMO Harris Bradley Center. The fountain uses recirculated, chlorinated water. Find out more >>
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Calie Herbst, Editor-in-Chief of Milwaukee With Kids, has spent over a decade combining her experiences as a parent of three to create a hub for Milwaukee’s family adventures.
Her decade-long teaching career in Milwaukee Public Schools and academic background, including a Master’s in Teaching from Marquette University and dual B.A.s in Sociology and Spanish from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, fuel her passion for inclusive and engaging family content.
Calie is also a recognized voice in local media, contributing to WISN Channel 12 News, WTMJ Wisconsin Morning News, Fox 6’s Real Milwaukee, and B93.3.
Discover more about Calie’s journey and editorial approach on her About Page and Editorial Policy Page.
