Cool it Kids!
Yeah, It’s HOT—but Bear Has a COOL Solution for the Heat.
It’s Splash Pads to the Rescue!
Check out the city pools near you to find fun ways to keep cool this summer. Many municipal pools offer low-cost swim lessons, some have spray pads or play structures designed especially for kids, and you might even sign up for junior lifeguard training! Whether you’re looking for thrills on a water slide or you want to relax on a lazy river, you can find a pool that’s right for you this summer. Visit one of the websites listed in this feature and search “pools” or “aquatics” to find pool locations, hours, fees, amenities and special events. Stay safe and keep cool!
CHANDLER:
• Chuparosa Park Spray Pad. 2400 S. Dobson Rd., Chandler
• Desert Breeze Park Spray Pad 660 N. Desert Breeze Blvd., Chandler
• Espee Park Spray Pad 450 E. Knox Rd., Chandler
Hours: May–August 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
GILBERT:
• Gilbert Regional Park Splash Pad. 3005 E Queen Creek Rd., Gilbert
Hours: Year Round 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
• Water Tower Plaza Splash Pad. 45 W. Page Ave., Gilbert. Hours: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
GLENDALE:
• Heroes Park Splash Pad 8300 W. Bethany Home Rd., Glendale
• O’Neil Park Splash Pad 6448 W. Missouri Ave., Glendale. Hours: May 24–Sept 1 open from 12–7 p.m.
MESA:
• Eastmark Great Park Splash Pad. 5100 S Eastmark Parkway, Mesa Hours: March–Oct open 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Riverview Park Splash Pad. 2100 W Rio Salado Pkwy, Mesa. Hours: March–Oct open 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Pioneer Park Splash Pad. 526 E Main Street, Mesa
Hours: March–Oct open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Signal Butte Splash Pad. 11132 E Elliot Rd, Mesa
Hours: March–Oct open 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
PHOENIX:
• Altadenda Splash Pad. 3711 E. Altadena Ave., Phoenix
• Civic Space Park Splash Pad 424 N. Central Ave., Phoenix
• Dust Devil Splash Pad 10645 W. Camelback Rd., Phoenix
• Edison Splash Pad 901 N. 19th St., Phoenix
• Francisco Highland Splash Pad 2702 E. South Mountain Ave., Phoenix
• Laveen Village Splash Pad 3146 W. Vineyard Rd., Phoenix
• Mountain Vista Splash Pad 13647 S. 50th St., Phoenix
• Nuestro Splash Pad 1433 S. 9th St., Phoenix
• Pecos Splash Park 17010 S. 48th St., Phoenix
• Trailside Point Splash Park 7215 W. Vineyard Rd., Phoenix
Hours: Now–Oct 1 open 5:30 a.m. to 10 or 11 p.m.
• Phoenix Zoo Water Play Areas www.phoenixzoo.org
Open during zoo hours–must pay zoo admission
SCOTTSDALE:
• Agua Linda Park Spray Poles 8732 E. McDonald Dr., Scottsdale
• Chesnutt Park Splash Pad 4565 N. Granite Reef Rd., Scottsdale
• Florence Ely Nelson Desert Park Splash Pad 8950 E. Pinnacle Peak Rd., Scottsdale
• McDowell Mountain Ranch Park Aquatic Center 15525 N. Thompson Peak Pkwy., Scottsdale
• Paiute Park Splash Pad 3210 N. 66th St., Scottsdale
• Pima Park Splash Pad 8600 E. Thomas Rd., Scottsdale
• Vista del Camino Park Splash Pad 7700 E. Roosevelt St., Scottsdale
TEMPE:
• The Cloud at Kiwanis Park Splash Pad 5233 S. Ash Ave., Tempe
• Esquer Park Splash Pad 2407 E. McArthur Dr., Tempe
• Parque de Soza Splash Pad 1430 S. Cedar St., Tempe
• Jaycee Park Splash Pad 817 W. 5th St., Tempe
Hours: April 1–Oct 31 open 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. except for Esquer Park Splash Pad. See webpage for Esquer Park days/hours.
Water Safety!
“It’s hot in Arizona and for families the best way to cool off is being outdoors where there’s a pool to refresh!” points out Yomaira Castillo, Injury Prevention Program Manager for the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS). “And so we (have) a lot of drownings within Arizona due to the fact that we just have such a high number of pools.” She points out that drownings can happen anywhere, even in just 2 inches of water.
Drownings Spike Here
Last year, the number of drownings in Maricopa and Pinal counties spiked to a five-year high with 18 kids under age 5 dying. Drownings can happen quickly and silently. It is the leading cause of injury-related death among kids ages 1–4, and it’s the third leading cause of unintentional injury-related death among children 19 and under.
But the good news is that drownings are 100 percent preventable! Castillo says to follow the ABC’s of water safety: Active Adult Supervision, Barriers & swim Classes.
Whether it’s a dip in the community or backyard pool, these swimming safety tips from Safe Kids can help you have fun in the sun. Safe Kids Arizona is run by ADHS.
Top Tips for Swimming Safety
1. Watch kids when they are in or around water. Keep young children and weak swimmers within arm’s reach of an adult. Make sure more experienced swimmers are with a partner every time.
2. Choose a Water Watcher. When there are several adults present, choose one (or two) to be responsible for watching children in or near the water for a certain period of time, such as 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, select
another adult to be the Water Watcher.
3. Teach children how to swim. Every child is different, so enroll children in swim lessons when they are ready. Consider their age, development and how often they are around water.
4. Make sure kids learn these five water survival skills.
• Step or jump into water over their head and return to the surface.
• Turn around in the water and orient to safety.
• Float or tread water.
• Combine breathing with forward movement in the water.
• Exit the water.
5. Teach children that swimming in open water is different from swimming in a pool. Be aware of situations that are unique to open water, such as limited visibility, depth, uneven surfaces, currents and undertow. These potential hazards can make swimming in open water more challenging than swimming in a pool.
6. Learn CPR and basic water rescue skills. It is important to know how to respond in an emergency without putting yourself at risk of drowning. Learning these skills may help you save a life.