Which area Splash Pads are worth the trip?

by Orlando Moms Guide
(A special THANKS to Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens for extending your hospitality during this photoshoot! And the parents of Kendall, Leila, Nicholas, Aaron, and Andrew for allowing us to have fun with your kiddos!)

Splash pads are a great way to beat the heat with little ones, especially the not-yet-swimming set. Many splash pads offer adequate shade, comfortable seating, and nearby parks or picnic areas, making them an ideal choice for summertime play dates.

We recently polled Orlando Mom’s Guide readers to learn which area splash pads are worth the trip. Below are seven local options to keep your crew cool as the summer temperatures start to climb.

Capehart Park (No charge.)
715 Capehart Drive, Orlando, 32822
Gated splash pad is adjacent to two new playground areas that feature rubber flooring. Readers noted that Capehart Park is especially clean.

Wharton-Smith Splash Ground at the Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens (See website for admission costs. Splash pad entry is included in zoo admission.)
3755 NW Hwy 17-92, Sanford, 32771
Large splash pad appropriate for kids of all ages. Ample seating and shade.

Dr. P. Phillips Community Park
($1 per person on weekends and during the summer.)
8249 Buenavista Woods Blvd, Orlando, 32836
Large splash pad with two separate areas depending on how much splishing and splashing your child wants. Nearby playground that’s well suited for older children.

Hannibal Square Splash Pad (No charge.)
New England Avenue, Winter Park, 32789
Small splash pad with good morning shade. Well suited for younger children.

Oviedo Aquatic Facility ($4 – $9 per person.)
148 Oviedo Boulevard, Oviedo, 32765
Features a zero-entry playground/splashground in the middle of a very shallow pool. Plenty of shade-covered seating.

Tavares Children’s Splash Park ($2 per person.)
201 E. Main Street, Tavares, 32778
Water cannons, slides, and climbing towers. Ample shade. Completely fenced with expansive playground adjacent.

Winter Garden Splash Park (No charge.)
Downtown Winter Garden on the corner of Plant Street and South Lakeview Avenue
Open 7 days a week, but especially popular on Saturday mornings during their Farmers Market when vendors, musicians, and families gather in the town square.

The Orlando Mom’s Guide has been a reliable resource since 2008.  A Facebook-based tool, the Mom’s Guide is written by a local mom of 4, and exists to take some of the guesswork out of raising children by providing unbiased reviews of local businesses, timely information about family-friendly events, and helpful encouragement for hard-working moms like you.   Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/orlandomomsguide