You don’t have to pay admission to a waterpark to beat the heat! During the summer months, many local parks operate free spraygrounds. Also known as splash pads or spray parks, these watery play areas contain little to no standing water. Here are some of our favorites:
Dagg Park, North Kansas City — Dagg Park’s splash pad will transport you straight into the ocean! Amidst the playful dolphin and manta ray sculptures, spray structures of all shapes and sizes shoot water onto passersby. Make sure to stop by the coconut tree, which will drench you with its splash buckets. Nearby is a smaller spray park for ages 2 and under. Both spraygrounds are ADA compliant.
John Anderson Park, Grandview — This pirate-themed splash pad features a ship’s bow and water cannons. Farther down the spray park, a sculpted pirate’s flag and ship’s mast will splash you with sea spray. After voyaging past a giant anchor, a whale’s tail and multiple splash buckets, you’ll reach a little island with a palm tree-shaped spray structure. There’s even a treasure chest printed on the splash pad’s nonslip floor.
Lea McKeighan Park North, Lee’s Summit — This one-of-a-kind spray park resembles a giant pond. An oversized cattail and colorful flowers tower above you, spritzing out water. The sprayground also has several little fountains and interactive spray features. But the most striking feature of all is the enormous scorpion! This wily creature shoots water from its pincers and has a splash bucket instead of a stinger.
Burrus Old Mill Park, Blue Springs — It’s a jungle out there! A sculpted hippo and elephant will spurt water at your kids as they enjoy this inclusive splash pad. Water rains down from fake trees, fountains shoot up from the ground, and jungle-themed spray structures saturate you from head to toe. Another popular feature is the small waterslide.
Wilder Bluff Park, Shawnee — In this nature-themed spray park, you’ll find little boulders that spout out water, a miniature waterfall and a stack of rocks with water cascading down. The sprayground also has a stream that winds under a bridge. The stream is only a few inches deep, so it’s perfect for little ones to explore.