It’s hard to know what to do with children on those sweltering summer days. Big water parks are always fun, but they can get expensive and they aren’t the safest place for small children. A much better option is to take your little ones to one these eight splash parks, splash pads or spraygrounds — they’re a great, safe way to make sure your kids keep active and refreshed during the hotter months. Unfortunately, Bicentennial Splashpad in downtown Nashville is not operating due to the ongoing construction in the area. Cumberland Splashpad (also in downtown Nashville) is also down for the season; the parks’ attendant told us they hope to have it back up for next summer.
8 Splash Pads We Love in Middle TN:
1. Kirkpatrick Sprayground
620 S. 9th Street, Nashville
615-862-8453
The equipment is all operated by foot pads, so little ones can activate it themselves and the water area features a special non-slip surface to prevent nasty accidents. The area is also surrounded by safety fences, so you can be sure your children don’t run off if you look away for a few minutes.
Open: Memorial Day – Labor Day
Hours: Weekdays 10 a.m.- 5:30 p.m., weekends 10 a.m.- 3 p.m.
Cost: Free
Kirkpatrick Sprayground
2. Watkins Sprayground
Jo Johnston Avenue at 17th Avenue North, Nashville
Features a small, fenced sprayground on the south side of the park, with tons of exciting water features to keep kids busy. This is a smaller park, so there’s not as many features as Kirkpatrick and Cumberland, but it doesn’t get anywhere near as busy, which is a definite plus!
Open: Memorial Day – Labor Day
Hours: Weekdays 10 a.m.- 5:30 p.m., weekends 10 a.m.- 3 p.m.
Cost: Free
Watkins Sprayground
3. Brentwood Splash Park
920 Heritage Way, Brentwood
615-370-3471 ext. 2122
Multiple slides, ground and ring sprays and a 100 gallon dump bucket.
Open: Memorial Day – August 5
Hours: Mondays – Fridays 10 a.m. – 7 p.m., Saturdays 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Sundays 1 – 5 p.m.
Cost: Ages 0-2 are Free, ages: 3-17 are $2, ages 18-55 are $4 and ages 55+ are $2.
Brentwood Splash Park
4. Ava’s Splash Pad
1075 Charlie Daniels Pkwy, Mt. Juliet
615-758-6522
Open: Memorial Day – Labor Day
Hours: Open Mondays – Saturdays 11 a.m. – 6 p.m., Sundays 1 – 5 p.m. through Labor Day
Cost: Free
Ava’s Splash Pad
5. Don Fox Community Park
416 Baird Park Circle, Lebanon
615-449-0303
The park also has a 60-foot wading pool for small children and their parents that is maintained by the Jimmy Floyd Family Life Center. Also for the children, there are two larger playgrounds. One is a 25,000 square foot stockade playground, and the other is a 10,000 square foot playground that is handicap accessible.
Open: Memorial Day – Labor Day
Hours: Mondays – Saturdays from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m., Sundays from 1 – 5 p.m.
Cost: Free
Don Fox Community Park
6. Gregory Mill Splash Pad
390 Enon Springs Road E., Smyrna
Playing under sprinklers and sprays at Gregory Mill Park. After that, hours move to weekends only. The pad is closed during inclement weather. Admission is free. Call 615-459-9773 for details and visit townofsmyrna.org for details on park rentals.
Open: Now through Aug.
Hours: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday through Sunday
Cost: Free
Gregory Mill Splash Pad
7. Splash Town at SOAC
100 Sam Ridley Parkway, Smyrna
615-459-2553
Enjoy the outdoor pool, big slides, and young kids play area.
Open: Memorial Day – Labor Day
Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m.
Cost: $5 for ages 12 and younger and seniors 55 and older, and $7 for adults
Splash Town at SOAC
8. Fountains at Gateway
1500 Medical Center Pkwy, Murfreesboro
615-895-0850
Kids can cool off in this neat splash pad while you walk around a beautiful fish-filled pond. Fountains light up at night (turned on and off at the discretion of the maintenance crew).
Open: Memorial Day – Labor Day
Hours: Open from 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. every day in the Summer
Cost: Free
Fountains at Gateway
