13 splash pads in North Jersey to stay cool with the family this summer
Have you ever woken up on a hot summer day, but had no idea where you should go to cool off? It's likely happened to all of us once or twice, which is why it's important to stay in the know about everything North Jersey has to offer.
For the times when you don't feel like driving down to the shore, or don't want to commit an entire day at a waterpark, consider spending a few hours at a local splash pad or spray park: a recreational area for water play with little to no standing water.
Here are some spray parks and splash pads in North Jersey to keep both yourself and your little ones cool this summer.
Dundee Island Park, Passaic
Dundee Island Park was unveiled in 2020 as part of Passaic's riverfront restoration. In addition to amenities like an amphitheater, multipurpose fields and walking paths, Dundee Island Park features a fenced-in spray park with an elevated water sprayer and two dumping buckets for kids to enjoy. Plus the water is activated by a "Let's Play" button inside the spray park, so it can be enjoyed at anytime. And the spray park is located next to the playground, meaning the fun doesn't have to end once you dry off.
Hours: Open 24 hours daily.
Go: Along Veterans Court, Passaic; 973-881-4833, seepassaiccounty.org/explore/parks/dundee-island-park/.
Newport Green, Jersey City
Newport Green in Jersey City spans four acres and features the city's first urban beach located along the Hudson River. In addition to attractions like a playground and a carousel, Newport Green offers a splash pad full of ground sprayers, walk-through sprayers, dumping buckets and more. This fenced-in park is free to enter and is all abilities accessible.
Hours: Open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily until Labor Day.
Go: River Drive and Park Lane South, Jersey City; 201-626-5000, newportnj.com/neighborhood/newport-green.
Pirate's Cove at Mount Playmore, Budd Lake
Located in Turkey Brook Park in Mount Olive Township, Pirate's Cove is a 3,000-square-foot, all-abilities-accessible splash pad at the Mount Playmore playground. It offers more than 20 unique and interactive water features, including ground jets and taller sprinkler structures, all within a fenced-in area that has a single entrance and exit. Plus, there are sidewalks connecting the splash pad to the Mount Playmore playground, a designated parking area for easy access and a nearby bathroom structure. There is no fee to enter the splash pad.
Hours: Open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily until Labor Day, but weather closures are announced on the Pirate's Cove Facebook page.
Go: 30 Flanders Road, Budd Lake; 973-691-0900 ext. 7260, mountolivetwpnj.org/parks-buildings-grounds/page/pirates-cove-splash-pad.
Carver Park Splash Pad, Hackensack
In Hackensack, there are two splash pads: one in Polifly Park and one in Carver Park. Until further notice, though, the Polifly Park splash park is closed, so the one in Carver Park is the only one currently available in the city. The park is fenced in and free to enter, and features walk-through water sprayers, ground sprinklers and a water dumping bucket. It also fully accessible for all abilities.
Hours: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily until Labor Day.
Go: 294 Second St., Hackensack; 201-646-8042,
Watsessing Park Spray Park, East Orange
Spanning between both Bloomfield and East Orange, Watsessing Park is a 69-acre park with athletic fields, a bandstand, basketball courts, a playground and a senior citizen building. In the portion of the park that sits in East Orange, there is also the Watsessing Park Spray Park, which features fish-shaped buckets that tip water onto playing children, sprinkler tunnels, water jets, water geysers, a spray cannon, a dolphin misting tunnel and a snail-shaped water slide. For parents, there are chairs located around the fenced-in splash pad for you to sit back and relax while keeping an eye on the kids. There is no fee to enter the splash pad.
Hours: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily starting on Saturday, June 21.
Go: Glenwood Avenue and Dodd Street, East Orange; 973-268-3500, essexcountyparks.org/parks/watsessing-park.
Borough Park, Elmwood Park
In Elmwood Park, there is a large splash pad in Borough Park. The area offers ground sprayers, elevated sprayers, mini dumping buckets and more. The splash pad is fenced in for added safety, and is all abilities accessible. To enter, you can either purchase a day pass — $5 for Elmwood Park residents and $10 for non-residents — or a season pass, which is $70 for Elmwood Park residents and $80 for non-residents.
Hours: Open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, starting on Monday, June 24.
Go: 500 Mola Blvd., Elmwood Park; 201-796-1457 ext. 8812, cpcalendars.elmwoodparkpd.com/notices-announcements/782-spray-park-2024-information
The Splash Zone at the Lakes at Darlington, Mahwah
While a bit more intricate than a typical splash pad, The Splash Zone at Darlington County Park offers experiences for both kids and adults during the summer. The attraction is essentially an inflatable water park, featuring a maze of pathways, ramps, slides and a trampoline that stretch over the surface of the lake. Tickets for regular sessions are $10 for county residents and $15 for out of county visitors, and tickets for kiddie sessions are $5 for county residents and $7 for out of country visitors.
There are similar attractions available at Sunrise Lake Beach Club at Lewis Morris County Park in Morris Township and Captain Michael Kilroy Memorial Park in Wayne.
Hours: Sessions are held daily at 10:40 a.m., noon, 2 p.m., 3:20 p.m. and 4:40 p.m. until Labor Day. Each session is 50 minutes long and includes a 10 minute safety orientation.
Go: 600 Darlington Ave., Mahwah; 201-327-3500, co.bergen.nj.us/parks-recreation-areas/darlington-county-park.
Randolph Park Beach, Randolph
Randolph Park Beach is a designated sandy area along Randolph Lake where visitors are invited to relax or participate in summer water activities. There is also a small spray park here next to the lake, where children can play among a variety of water spray features. In addition to this, there is an inflatable activity with a trampoline, a walking ledge, a roundabout and pathways.
While you need a membership to access these attractions, you'll be able to return an unlimited number of times during the season. Seasonal memberships for residents are $90 for individuals, $160 for couples and $190 for a family of six, while memberships for non-residents are $135 for individuals or $280 for a family of six.
Hours: Open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends until June 16, then 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily until Aug. 25.
Go: 43 Green Lane, Randolph; 973-584-1358, randolphnj.org/facilities/facility/details/randolph-lake-13.
Here are a few more splash pads open in North Jersey:
Jewell Street Spray Park, 480 Midland Ave., Garfield.
Weasel Brook Park, 794 Park Dr., Clifton.
William T. Birch Park, 500 Stillwell Ave., Fort Lee.
Walter Lubbe Jr. Playground, New Bridge Road and Brey Lane, Bergenfield.
Weequahic Park, Elizabeth Avenue and Meeker Avenue, Newark.
Maddie McGay is the real estate reporter for NorthJersey.com and The Record, covering all things worth celebrating about living in North Jersey. Find her on Instagram @maddiemcgay, on X @maddiemcgayy, and sign up for her North Jersey Living newsletter.Do you have a tip, trend or terrific house she should know about? Email her at MMcGay@gannett.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Splash pads in North Jersey to avoid the heat in summer 2024
