There's no question about it--when the weather turns hot, it's hard to stay cool in Memphis. With summer temperatures that tend to hover in the 90's and oppressive humidity levels, cooling off is a necessity. These splash parks, ground fountains, and wading pools are all great places to get some relief from the heat. Best of all, they are safe for children of all ages as there is little-to-no water depth involved.
At this writing, there are two additional Memphis-area splash parks in the planning and/or construction stages. I will update this page as new splash parks open.
Civic Center Plaza
© Michael Amick, Creative Commons License
Located right in front of City Hall, the fountains at Civic Center Plaza are almost always on. Each in-ground jet sprays intermittently, providing endless fun for kids (and some adults) as they try to "catch" or avoid each spray. There are no colorful sprayers or water features but that doesn't seem to detract from the fun.
125 North Main Street
Memphis, TN 38103
125 North Main Street
Memphis, TN 38103
Collierville Spray Parks
© Collierville Parks
There are two spray parks in Collierville--one at W.C. Johnson Park and the other at Suggs Park. These colorful parks are designed for children 12 and under and their parents. Monday and Wednesday mornings are reserved for Collierville residents ages 6 and under.
Suggs Park
163 E. South Street
Collierville, TN 38017
and
W.C. Johnson Park
419 Johnson Park Drive
Collierville, TN 38017
Suggs Park
163 E. South Street
Collierville, TN 38017
and
W.C. Johnson Park
419 Johnson Park Drive
Collierville, TN 38017
Memphis Zoo
© The Memphis Zoo
In addition to thousands of animals, kiddie rides, a playground, and more, the Memphis Zoo also offers some water fun. Running through the zoo's Egyptian-themed courtyard is a replica of the Nile River that provides a few inches of wading fun. In addition, the Teton Trek exhibit features "geysers" (a.k.a ground fountains) that kids can run through.
2000 Galloway Ave.
Memphis, TN 38112
2000 Galloway Ave.
Memphis, TN 38112
Mud Island Riverwalk
© ilovememphis, Creative Commons License
The Mud Island Riverwalk is a scale model of the lower Mississippi River. The bumps and contours are a little rough under bare feet, but the kids don't seem to mind. Best of all, the Riverwalk is part of Mud Island's free exhibits. If you can find a free place to park and walk across the pedestrian bridge, this can be a completely free visit.
125 North Front Street
Memphis, TN 38103
125 North Front Street
Memphis, TN 38103
Peabody Park
© ilovememphis, Creative Commons License
Currently, the splash pad at Peabody Park is the only one at a Memphis city park. It features sprayers and misters of different sizes to accommodate various age ranges. While the park can get busy on a summer Saturday, there usually isn't too much of a crowd.
712 Tanglewood Street
Memphis, TN 38104
712 Tanglewood Street
Memphis, TN 38104
