Photo credit: Central Park Master Community Association (MCA)
Looking for some fun, affordable late summer fun in and around Central Park with the kids? We put together this quick post to give you the scoop on some local water slides and splash zones. We made sure to include some indoor options too for those of you trying to get the kids out of the sun a bit.
Back in my day (oh man, I sound old), if you wanted a pool with a water slide, you had to beg for a family trip to a distant water park. That happened about once per year and was probably a lot of work for my parents. But families who move to Central Park are not only often blown away by the sheer access to amazing pools we have in our neighborhood and rec centers, but the water-park-level features! We’re not just talking boring lap pools—there are toddler splash zones, lazy rivers, and full-blown water slides. Here are some of our favorite slides and water features to check out in and around the neighborhood.
Photo credit: Central Park Master Community Association (MCA)
The newest of our community pools draws families from all corners of Central Park for it’s not one, but two really fun water slides. One open and one tube, both slides are quite tall, twisty, and fast, propelling riders into a medium-deep section of the pool—a blast for good swimmers of all ages. (You’ll see the grownups line up for their turn during adult swim.)
Photo credit: Wheree
If you have a rec center membership, there is a Central Park location with a pool that has a great lazy river and splash zone, but the water slide there isn’t really a good fit for little kids. If you want a kid-friendly slide, you might be better off driving 10 minutes to this spot. There’s a nice, big, open slide with lots of twists and turns that ends in a medium-depth section of the pool. There’s also a cool splash feature with gears to turn and foosball right outside the pool area for a fun stop on the way out.
Photo credit: Athletic Business
This rec center in central Denver, around the corner from East high school, has a fun splash zone as well as a nice water slide. It’s a tube at the top, then opens up, and kids whiz down fast. It’s separate from the pool and ends in a shallow, flat space.
Photo credit: City of Aurora
It’s in Aurora, so not part of Denver rec center membership, but it’s so close to Central Park and the drop-in fees are relatively low, so we thought it was worth mentioning! A large, twisty slide is separate from the pool and simply ends with a flat section.
Photo credit: Apex Park and Recreation District
This Arvada pool is about a 30 minute trek from Central Park, but if you want a mini-water park-like experience, it’s worth the drive! Two very big, fast slides, one of which you ride on an inner tube, a smaller splash area with a water bucket dumping and a small tube slide that ends in a shallow section, plus a family (in other words, not too hot) hot tub. There’s also a free indoor playground suitable for little kids, ice rinks, a rock climbing wall, and more.
Enjoy making the most of summer with your loved ones, it’s going quick!
