Splash pads are the best, right? With this summer heat, I am thinking we would hit one up most days! We have so many good ones right here in Columbus. However, with everything going, understandably most of them are closed. I am not sure how busy they are or what the rules are (mask vs. no mask, open bathrooms, capacity), but I thought I would share with you the ones I know are open for the season. I would suggest checking out websites/social media before going to double check rules & make sure hours have not changed!
While we haven’t hit up any splash pads, we have been creeking with the girls and they LOVE IT! At the bottom of this post, I linked a few spots we’ve been + a couple articles from Columbus For Kids and Columbus Moms Blog on their favorite spots to go creeking.
Marysville
Splash pad is FREE to the public Monday – Sunday from 10AM – 9PM. Modifications to the splash pad operations have been made due to COVID-19. Per a Facebook post from City of Marysville, guests will NOT be required to sign-in and there will be NO time limits. This is different than their initial plan on their website.
Address: Partners Park – 125 E. Sixth St., Marysville, OH
Cost: Free
Website
Obetz
Splash pad is FREE to the public Monday – Sunday from 11 AM – 7 PM.
Address: 4390 Lancaster Avenue 43207 Obetz, OH
Phone: 614-409-4409
Cost: Free
Website – The website has a list of COVID-19 rules.
Plain City
Splash pad is FREE to the public during these hours ONLY: 8am-10:45am and 8pm-10pm.
Location: Plain City Aquatic Center: 160 West Second Street, Plain City, Ohio 43064
Phone: 614-873-3527 x110
Cost: Free
Website | Facebook
Whitehall
Splash pad is FREE to the public Thursday – Sunday from 12 – 7:30pm. It looks like they are taking reservations and the person making the reservation must be a Whitehall resident. Blocks of time reservable for 4 households at a time, limit 8 people per household. Time blocks will open each Monday at noon for reservations Thursday – Sunday of that week. Click here to reserve a time slot for your household.
Address: 4815 Etna Rd., Whitehall, OH 43213
Cost: Free
Website
I think that is all of the splash pads I’ve officially seen open for 2020, however, there are a ton of other ways to cool off. Even if you missed that super cheap pool from Aldi like everyone in Columbus besides the 2 people who didn’t miss it.
We’ve been hitting up a lot of our Metro Parks and it has been GREAT. They haven’t been busy and if they have been, there is enough space to more than social distance 6 feet and beyond. I think our favorite so far has been Highbanks. The water was VERY shallow and there was a ton to explore. You can get all the details in this post. If you head over to the Metro Parks website, it is very user friendly and you can see everything the park offer. I’ve heard Prairie Oaks has a great creek.
Ashley, over at Columbus for Kids, put together an AMAZING list of Natural Splash Pads around Central Ohio. I am using her blog post as a guide because it has a ton of great options + all the details. I am most excited about Shale Hollow Preserve. It looks magical. I did hear it can get pretty busy and the parking is very limited. Most people have suggested we get there early, which is no problem because the girls are up before 7 every day!
Columbus Mom Blog also put together a list of their favorite spots to creek at around Columbus. They included Shale Hollow Park as one of their top picks, giving me another reason to check it out.
They gave this tip about Shale Hollow – “Pro Tip: There are a few main areas for creeking. If this is your first time, head to the natural play area. Not only is the creek is easy to access, but the natural play area includes a bridge, teepee, and more—a perfect way to spend the morning.”
On their list is Scioto Grove Metro Park and it looks really neat. Not only do they have a great creek, they have a rope bridge over the creeking spot. That is such a fun extra to your adventure. You can see all of their suggestions here.
My last suggestion for a splash pad is at Franklin Park Conservatory. They recently opened back up and we are thrilled because they have such a great outdoor space for kids. Within the Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation Children’s Garden they have an area named My Ohio Woods. It includes Sandstone Creek (Rivulets form at the base of The Headwaters, and water gathers in pools and waterways. Sandstone Creek is the perfect place to paddle barefoot in the shallow pools, float sticks and build dams in the stream, or just cool off) and The Headwaters (At The Headwaters, water trickles and drips along the fern-adorned bluff wall, calling children to touch and explore the spring, rock formations and fossils embedded in the bluff walls.)
Cost: Admission is NOT typically free (ranges $12-$19, 3 and under are FREE), however, they do offer FREE community days once a month. You do need a reservation, which you can make here.
Address: 1777 E. Broad Street Columbus, OH 43203
Phone: 614-715-8000
Website
Hopefully this gives you a few ideas on how to cool off with the kids this summer. If you have any favorite creeking spots, send them my way. We love a good adventure, but we also love running through the hose at home!
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