365 Things to Do in Memphis #158: Splash Around at A Splash Park

365 Things to Do in Memphis #158: Splash Around at Peabody Park

Running through a splash park is sort of like playing in a field of the best sprinklers ever!

Assignment #158 in the 365 Things to Do in Memphis is to put on your suit, grab a towel and cool off at one of Memphis's splash parks, splash pads, or water playgrounds.

Splash Park at the Children's Museum of Memphis
Jacob Geyer
CMOM H2Oh! Splash Park
Splash Pad at Shelby Farms Park |
Allen Gillespie
Shelby Farms Park Sprayground

Memphis Zoo splash park

2000 Prentiss Place

At the Memphis Zoo, the "Monogram Foods Loves Kids Foundation Splash Park", which is its official name. It's open for two sessions every day. The morning session is from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and the afternoon session is from 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. It’s a zero-depth water play area with slides, dump buckets, interactive water toys, and a toddler section. 

The splash park is $8 for members, $10 for non-members. This is an add-on, so it will be in addition to the admission fees ($21 for adults (12-59), $16 per child, and $20 for seniors 60+.) If you go on Free Zoo Tuesday (free for Tennessee residents) you still have to pay the $8 or the $10. Parking is $10. NO COOLERS.

Children’s Museum of Memphis H2Oh! Splash Park 

2525 Central Ave.
Open daily Memorial Day through Labor Day, CMOM’s awesome splash park will keep the kids cool and entertained all summer long! There are more than 40 sprayers, misters, “geysers”, tunnels and play areas, plus some lawn chairs and a few picnic spots.

The Memphis Children’s Museum splash park is open seasonally from Memorial Day to Labor Day-- 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., excluding major holidays. For non-members, tickets are $20. For members, splash pad is included in the seasonal price.

Shelby Farms Park Sprayground

6309 Great View Dr. North
Shelby Farms Park’s 4000 square feet of water play space has jets, pumps, boulders, and fun. You need to book in advance to reserve your 4-hour time slot; there are morning (9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.) and afternoon (2 p.m. - 6 p.m.) sessions. It’s $10.95 for wristband access to the area for everyone over 3 years old, that’s kids, adults, everyone who goes in. You can get a few bucks off with a group rate for 15-24 people. Check out all the rules and details—and book your session—here.

Pro tip: On Tuesdays, Shelby Farms has one hour FREE splash park sessions, first-come first-served with limited capacity. The sessions start every hour on the hour from noon to 5 p.m.

W.C. Johnson Park Splash Park - Collierville

419 W. C. Johnson Park Dr. 
Collierville runs a tight ship with their Johnson Park spray park! Residents can go for free—just go to the Parks office during business hours and present proof of Collierville residence, then receive your family’s splash park pass for the season.

Non-residents will also need to go to the Parks office during business hours to buy a $10 pass (per person, per visit). The park’s hours are Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. It’s for kids 12 and under only.

Suggs Spray Park - Collierville

163 East South Street
Collierville’s other spray park doesn’t require passes or non-resident fees, and is open Monday through Saturday 9 a.m to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., and is also for kids ages 12 and under only. 

Peabody Park / Raymond Skinner Center Splash Park 

712 Tanglewood Street (midtown near Central and Cooper)
This neighborhood splash park (really more like a splash pad) is free and chill. Cool off under fountains, walk through sprayers, and enjoy the nearby regular (non-water) playground, too. Open 6 a.m. until 8 p.m. daily in the summer.

David Carnes Park Splash Pad 

Whitehaven Lane and Auburn Rd. (Whitehaven)
Playgrounds, a splash pad, walking trail, and fitness equipment make up this renovated park in Whitehaven. It’s free and open 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day in the summer.

Whitehaven Community Center Splash Pad

4318 Graceland Dr.
Play in the splash pad (new as of 2021) which includes sprayers and fountains and on the playground at the Raines-Finley Park near the Whitehaven Community Center. Free and open every day in the summer from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Crosstown Concourse Plaza Water Feature

1350 Concourse Ave.
The fountains and water features on the plaza are free and open to all to play in! It’s pretty simple and that’s the beauty of it. Free parking on the streets or in the garage and lots nearby.

Pro tip: Before you let the kids splash around, take them inside for a scoop of gelato at the newly-opened Magnolia Gelato location, some tenders at Aber’s, pizza from Pizza Trasimeno, or read a few books on the staircase library. Near the plaza there’s a newish pinball bar called Flipside filled with pinball machines, but it’s kid-friendly during the day and serves tacos.

Beale Street Landing’s Big Catfish Splash Park

This one is closed, fate tbd.

Mud Island River Park’s model Mississippi River

Long considered a place to wade on the mini river, there’s no official recommendation on that one. While it looks like a big swimming pool, swimming in the “Gulf of Mexico” are is not recommended.

Membership Splash Parks, Splash Pads, Pools

Kroc Center Membership

800 E. Parkway 
You have to be a member or be a guest of a member to enjoy the Kroc Center’s awesome swimming pool and indoor/outdoor splash pad, but the guest passes ($5 weekdays or $10 weekends) or summer membership is worth it for this mini water park. Call ahead for hours.

Germantown Athletic Club Membership

1801 Exeter Rd.
Outdoor pools, water slides, and tunnels abound at the GAC. Membership is required, but they do have summer-only memberships.

Jewish Community Center Membership

6560 Poplar
The JCC in Germantown has and outdoor water park open all summer with tons of features including slides, kiddie pool, “beach entry pool” (I am not bougie enough to know what that means) and a lazy river. You’ll need to be a member or visit as a member’s guest to get in.

YMCA Membership

Local YMCA facilities have various offerings for pools, swim lesson, and splash pads accessible to members. Check out their website for more info.

Exterior Splash Pad at the Children's Museum of Memphis
Jacob Geyer

Comments Make Us Happy

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Donna D.
Love this park and really live that it's free!
June 4, 2013 3:37pm
Lauralei McAuliffe
Peabody Park is awesome. Highly recommend! Highly! (especially for grandparents on a budget spending the day with their grandchildren).
May 19, 2015 6:36pm