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Spray Grounds and Splash Parks in Michigan and Beyond

Let your children cool off from the blazing heat at a spray ground this summer.

By Metro Parent Editorial
A splash park in Michigan
Photo credit: Independence Lake County Park

Escape into a refreshing and playful paradise for all ages by taking your family to one of the many splash parks in Michigan as well as the spray grounds also known as splash pads or parks, which are perfect for tiny tots and toddlers.

Many are “zero depth,” so there’s little standing water or risk of drowning for kindergarten-age kids or younger who can’t yet swim. Think of them as safe, soaked playgrounds: Streams of water shoot up from ground nozzles or sprinkle down from special features like arches, trees or even helicopters.

Here’s a list of options in southeast Michigan, plus tucked in larger “destination” water parks elsewhere in the state and even in Canada and Ohio (it’s good to know tot options are there if you’re planning a vacation; some are even located in hotels!).

And if these splash parks don’t put enough soak in your summer, you can always check out some of the local public swimming pools or water parks in your area.

Note: Please observe social distancing requirements and other regulations. Also, not all locales are zero-depth. Use caution and always supervise young children around water.

Adventure Bay Family Water Park: Splash Zone

This Canadian water park’s Splash Zone has a rain-forest theme. Water pumps through jets sprinkling a jungle gym. It has slides, a dumping bucket, ground jets and bright faux parrots overhead. Kids must be 36 inches or taller to ride pink and green slides; 40-inches plus for yellow and blue slides. This location is temporarily closed due to COVID-19.

Avalanche Bay Indoor Waterpark: Kitz Pool

Located up north, Michigan’s largest indoor waterpark resort welcomes “tiny splashers” to enjoy an activity structure with sprinklers, basketball hoops, buckets and a mini slide. Ages 5 and under. Prices are lower if you buy in advance online.

Bavarian Inn Lodge Waterpark: Toddler Play Pool

The play pool welcomes toddlers to have a good time in areas with 18 inches of water and fountains. Note: These are pools, so they aren’t zero-depth. It’s part of a bigger water park with options for all ages.

Blue Heron Bay Spray Park at Independence Lake County Park

On the list of Washtenaw County splash parks in Michigan, this spot is loaded with interactive jets used to spray those around you, water cannons, dumping buckets and more for family fun.

Brandenburg Park Splash Park

Sitting on the shoreline of Anchor Bay, the waterfront park stretches 17 acres with a kids play area, volleyball court and picnic area. This location is opening May 31, 2021.

Canton Heritage Park Splash Playground

Looking for a Canton splash park to take your child? Stop by this H2O playground during the summertime.

Canton Flodin Park Splash Playground

Explore another one of Canton’s splash parks! Beat the heat at Flodin Park with a small frog that spouts cool water and a playground for kids to stretch their legs and run free.

Castaway Bay Indoor Waterpark Resort: Toddler’s Tide Pool

Plan for a sweet escape at this Caribbean-themed retreat, which offers a play pool complete with a tandem slide, water pipes, spraying gadgets and sea creature play structures for toddlers 52 inches or taller in bare feet. Check out the Family Funhouse and more, too. This location is currently closed for renovations.

Cedar Point Shores: Lemmy’s Lagoon

Tot attractions abound at this Cedar Point destination, including a colorful multi-story play area, water geysers, curtains, tire swings, spray jets and a spiral slide at Lemmy’s Lagoon; and a splash ground with mini water thrill just for the small fries.

Chief Gene Shephard Park Splash Pad

This firefighter themed Splash pad is one of a kind. This location is temporarily closed due to COVID-19.

City of Livonia Aquatics: Outdoor Splash Pad

Grab your phone to snap a few pictures as your child splashes the day away in the summer sun. This location is opening June 19, 2021.

Crystal Mountain’s Park at Water’s Edge: Aquatic Playground

Bond with your family at an aquatic playground filled with water cannons and bubbling sprouts for the little ones as well as a zero-depth entry pool.

Dodge Park Splash Pad

The splash pad includes a mini splash area, movable spray features, interactive elements, water table, waterslide, toddler slide and a bucket that dumps water every couple of minutes. This location is temporarily closed due to COVID-19.

East Lansing Family Aquatic Center: Splash Park

Awarded the Gold National Aquatic Safety Award, the aquatic center consisting of several play structures guarantees a splashing time of family fun and safety. This location is temporarily closed due to COVID-19.

Flash Flood Water Park at Full Blast: Water Playground

With water slides and playgrounds, tots will be able to get a rush of cool water as well as excitement in this water park.

Great Wolf Lodge

At Great Wolf Lodge, kids enjoy the splash-crazy fun side of mother nature with interactive water toys, kid-activated splash features as well as a giant tipping bucket that falls over every time the water park’s bell rings.

H20 Zone Spray Ground

Soak in the sun and rinse off at the H20 Zone. Be sure to check out the 18-foot helicopter that sprays water from its spinning rotor. Plus, water bucket and spray attractions.

Indian Springs Metropark Spray ‘n’ Play

With a rock-climbing wall, cargo nets to climb and even a maze, stop by one of the cool metro Detroit splash parks in Michigan. After a good swim, let your toddlers build castles and leave their footprints in the sand play area.

KLR Splashpad

The “KLR” stands for “Kids Love Recreation” – that means all kids and ability levels at this inclusive park (“Aqua Wheelchairs” available on request). Be prepared for your child to get sprinkled in water as it squirts out from machines as well as the ground. This location is temporarily closed due to COVID-19.

Lake St. Clair Metropark Squirt Zone Spray Ground and Pool

With water cannons, a tunnel of water to run through and ground sprays shooting up water, tykes will be able to cool off no matter how hot the temperature gets. This location is temporarily closed due to COVID-19.

Lily Pad Splash Pad

One of the largest splash pads in Michigan. Has four water slides, over 50 play features, climbable structure and a bucket that dumps 55 gallons of water. Broken up into three sessions. This location is opening June 1, 2021.

Lily Pad Springs

The largest splash pad in Michigan features 5,500 square feet of water play including 50-plus play features, including a 2,400 square food climbable structure and four waterslides. Now taking reservations.

Macomb Township Recreation Center: SCS Play Structure

With a log run and lazy river as well as vortex with waterfall and a play structure for younger kids, this is a great spot for summertime fun.

Michigan’s Adventure WildWater Adventure Park & Splash Pad

The park’s “Beach Party” is equipped with super soakers, water slides, a ginormous bucket that dumps water and much more. “Half-pint Paradise” has slides and other mini structures for the little ones.

Mt. Elliott Park Water Feature on Detroit Riverfront Splash Park

This Great Lakes schooner-themed spot has water cascades, “kid activated” water cannons, unique wind chimes and more interactive features. There’s a popular open-air cafe nearby. This location is temporarily closed due to COVID-19.

Palmer Park Splash Park

This state-of-the-art neighborhood spot has colorful water-splashing pipes and small tipping buckets. This location is temporarily closed due to COVID-19.

Plymouth Township Sprayscape

This 2,600-square-foot spot has 24 spray features like water cannons, the “Horse Charger,” “Froggy-O” and “Daisy Mae” – along with 12 ground sprays. This location is opening May 29, 2021.

Red Oaks Waterpark: Soak Station and Spray & Play

The Soak Station water playground has water jets, curtains, slides, bubblers and a six-foot tipping bucket for 68 features in all (must be 56 inches or taller). For toddlers, the Spray & Play has 15 water jets and bubblers at zero depth. It is open seven days a week.

Renee Przybylski Memorial Spray Park

Offers a variety of above and below water features in this 3,200 square foot park.

Rolling Hills Water Park: Activity Pool

Among the Ann Arbor-area splash parks in Michigan, this spot for younger kids has zero-depth entry, a gentle bubbler, water geysers, a waterfall and kiddie slide for kids under 45 inches tall. This location is temporarily closed due to COVID-19.

Romulus Aquatic Center: Splash Pools

The splash pool includes zero depth entrance, water curtain as well as a 150-gallon tipping bucket. Outside the splash pool, kids can enjoy the water slide or lazy river, lap pool or two-story waterslide.

Soaring Eagle Water Park & Hotel: Biish Falls

This water jungle gym is just for younger guests, featuring water-spraying cattails, a big tipping bucket, slide that fits a parent and tyke, a canoe-shaped slide and colorful critters like fish, beavers and turtles.

Southfield Sports Arena Outdoor Pool: Children’s Spray Pool

This Southfield spot has a small children’s spray pool with a climbing wall and 120-foot waterslide. Note: This is a pool and is not zero-depth. This location is opening June 1, 2021.

Splash ‘n’ Blast at Kensington Metropark: Spray Ground

It’s known for its waterslides, but this popular area also belongs on the list of splash parks in Michigan for its tot-friendly area with palm trees, serpents and cannons that spray water. This location is temporarily closed due to COVID-19.

Splash Pad at Heritage Park

These fountains and sprayers are for kids of all ages (mom and dad, too). Stop by the snack shack for a treat or head to the nearby playground after you’ve cooled off.

Splash Universe: Water Adventure Tree House, Little Squirt Pool

A seven-level water-splashing jungle gym is in store at the tree house, complete with a 500-gallon tipping bucket; the pool touts safe fun for little ones. This location is temporarily closed due to COVID-19.

Spray Fountain at Warren City Square

Kids can cool off at the spray fountains, which are open Memorial Day through Labor Day. A hot dog stand is available at the City Square Farmer’s Market, which is open 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday.

Surfari Joe’s: Pygmy Pond Play Place

This indoor hotel water park holding 18,000 square feet of water offers another one of the fun splash parks in Michigan. The playland features slides, a dumping bucket and more. This location is temporarily closed due to COVID-19.

Summit Aquatic Center in Canton: Leisure Pool

At zero-depth, this cool community pool has a 30-inch water slide for smaller kids and features including tall features that spray down water, making it an indoor Canton splash park-inspired destination. This location is opening June 1, 2021.

Troy Family Aquatic Center: Splash Pad

With less than a foot of water, the spray pool and zero-depth splash pad at this popular Oakland County destination is a great hot spot to cool off for tots. This location is opening May 28, 2021.

Turtle Cove Family Aquatic Center at Lower Huron Metropark

Alongside its big-thrill slides, this spot has a water play scape with a 300-gallon dumping bucket and bright tube-like features that spill lots of water around. This location is temporarily closed due to COVID-19.

Veterans Memorial Outdoor Pool

This Ann Arbor city pool offers a zero-depth area with a “raindrop” and interactive water play features.

Waterford Oaks Waterpark: Big Bucket

This tropical-themed oasis offers a children’s water playground with 30-plus interactive activities like a big tipping bucket, waterfalls and sprays. This location is temporarily closed due to staffing issues.

Warren Community Center Indoor Water Park: Play Structure

With a water slide, lap pool and leisure pool, tots are able to escape the sun and splash and enjoy the cool water.

Wayne County Family Aquatic Center: Splish-Splash Land

Wayne County’s biggest family water park also has a giant attraction for little ones with 100-plus fountains delivering constant sprays and splashes. Ranges zero- to two-feet deep.

Wyndham Garden Sterling Heights Indoor Water Park: Interactive Splash Play Park

This Macomb County “staycation” fave has a splash playground with ground geysers, colorful slides and lots of water gushing down.

Zehnder’s Splash Village: Activity Pool

Little ones can play in this zero-entry activity pool with water geysers, spouts and gadgets, rounding off our splash parks in Michigan.

This post is updated regularly.

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