Best Places to Make a Splash This Summer

It’s hot! We’ve put together a list of the best places to cool off. Check out some of our local pools and water fun!

Rutherford Pool

975 Congress St, Ypsilanti
forpool.org | 734-482-4401Rutherford-Pool_150

What’s cool: Thanks to generous sponsors and donors, this local pool was completely renovated and rebuilt in 2014. Find water exercise classes and even a kids triathlon for ages 4-12. The pool is available for rent.
Guest amenities: Restrooms have changing tables.
Cost: $4, adults. $3, youth from 1-4:50pm. $2.25, youth from 6-8pm. $3, seniors age 55+. $2, ages 4 and younger.
Purchase a punch card and get your fifth visit free: $16/adults, $12/youth, and seniors. Season passes are also available.

Rolling Hills Water Park

7660 Stony Creek Rd, Ypsilanti
ewashtenaw.org | 734-484-9676local pool

What’s cool: Open Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day, Rolling Hills Water Park has everything you needβ€” a lazy river for lounging, a wave pool, water slides, and an activity pool with zero-depth entry. The large sun deck, which offers plenty of lounge chairs and umbrellas. Spraygrounds inside the water park are under construction until early August. This local pool/water park also a playground for when it’s time for a break.
Guest amenities: First aid services, bathhouses with restrooms, showers, diaper changing stations, and coin lockers.
Cost: $8 for county residents and $10 for non-residents (with $2 off after 5pm). Weekend and holiday rates bump up to $10 and $13. Kids under 36 inches tall are free.

Plymouth Sprayscape

46640 W Ann Arbor Trail, Plymouth
plymouthtwp.org | 734-453-3567Plymouth-Sprayscape_150

What’s cool: Approximately 2600 square feet of fun for kids of all ages. The sprayscape, open from 10-am-7:30pm daily, features 12 ground sprayers and 24 spray features, like the Water Cannons, Horse Charger, Froggy-O, Daisy Mae, and Water O’s.
Guest amenities: Township Park restrooms are available.
Cost: Free!

Buhr Park Pool

2751 Packard St
a2gov.org | 734-794-6234Buhr-Park-Pool_150

What’s cool: Young kids enjoy the tot pool, offering a zero to two-foot depth incline, and ages 1-8 love the fan-shaped splash pad, complete with interactive sprayers and toys available to borrow. Parents and older kids will find a 25-yard lap pool with a 12-foot diving well. Lounge chairs, a nice picnic area, tennis courts, and a shaded deck area provide poolside fun. It’s definitely got everything your local pool could want.
Guest amenities: Changing tables in family restrooms and locker rooms for changing.
Cost: Please see Veterans Memorial Park cost description.

Veterans Memorial Park Pool

2150 Jackson Ave
a2gov.org | 734-794-6235local pool

What’s cool: A recent extensive renovation has provided a brand-new, smooth pool liner. A few favorites include the fan-shaped, zero-depth area, an interactive water play feature, and the 125-foot water slide (42-inch height requirement). The local pool also offers rentals of the main pool, tot splash, waterslide, or a combination of the three.
Guest amenities: Family restrooms have changing tables.
Cost: $5, adults. $4, kids 4-17 and seniors 55+. Free for children 3 and under. 10-day punch passes are available for $40.Β Summer season passes are $265 and are valid from Memorial Day to Labor Day at Buhr, Fuller, and Veterans Memorial park pools for all public swim times and tot splashes.

Heritage Park Splash Pad

46000 Summit Pkwy, Canton
canton-mi.org/148/Splash-Playgrounds | 734-394-5323local pool

What’s cool: This park has all the spray feature fun you can handle, including several fountains, buckets, water guns, and mini soak arches to run through. Benches and picnic tables surround the perimeter. Birthday party packages are available.
Guest amenities: Family restrooms with changing tables are available as part of Heritage Park.
Cost: Free!

Fuller Park Pool

1519 Fuller Rd
a2gov.org | 734-794-6236FULLER-PARK_150

What’s cool: A favorite landmark for the kids is Fuller’s quintessential waterslide, but Fuller Park also boasts a seven-lane, 50-meter lap pool for adults and a shallow area with ramp access to splash around with your littles. For picnics and relaxing, find plenty of open space, lounge chairs, and grills. Events are also held throughout the summer, including β€œDive-In Movies,” where you can float and catch a flick on an inflatable big screen. It’s definitely the biggest local pool.
Guest amenities: Family restrooms with changing tables.
Cost: Please see Veterans Memorial Park cost description.

Jump Island Water Park

6122 Bishop Lake Rd, Brighton
www.jumpislandmi.com | 810-882-7568Jump-Island_150

What’s cool: Inflatable water park featuring a maze of trampolines and obstacles. Need we say more? 42-inch height requirement. Advance reservations are strongly recommended and can be made online or by phone.
Guest amenities: Bathrooms and rentable lockers.
Cost: $15 per person for a 45-minute pass, $25 for three consecutive 45-minute sessions, or $50 for an all-day pass.

Blue Heron Bay

3200 Jennings Rd, Whitmore Lake
washtenaw.org/parks | 734-449-4437

Blue Heron Bay.
Blue Heron Bay.

What’s cool: Part of the Independence Lake General Park, this β€œspray play facility” has a dedicated family section and includes a slide with no height restriction. The water play structure, a fun cross between a splash pad and a jungle gym, has colorful interactive jets everywhere you look.Β There is even a concessions stand!
Guest amenities: First aid services, family changing rooms, showers, diaper changing stations, and coin lockers.
Cost: $4, county residents. $5, non-residents (but $1 off after 5pm). Free for children 2 and under.
Note:Β Admission to Independence Lake Park is required.

Lily Pad Springs

6200 Farmington Rd., West Bloomfield Township
wbparks.org. | 248-451-1900

local pool splash pad
Image courtesy of Lily Splash Pad.

What’s cool: Although this water park is a bit far, it’s definitely worth the visit. Lily Pad Springs is the largest splash pad in Michigan, making it the perfect place for everyone. It has 50 play areas, four water slides, and a splash bucket which can dup 55 gallons of water on everyone below it.Β 
Guest amenities:
Free public lockers, restrooms, outdoor showers, ADA and Universally accessible
Cost: $4 for West Bloomfield residents and $6 for non-residents per session.
Note: There is no lifeguard on duty at this facility, so be sure to keep an eye on your little ones.

Argo Canoe Livery

1105 Longshore Dr., Ann Arbor.
734-794-6241.

argo cascades
Image courtesy of a2gov.org

What’s cool: Argo Canoe Livery provides us with the Argo Cascades, a series of small waterfalls that you can enjoy while kayaking and tubing. Tube, kayak, and life jacket rentals are available to those who are ready to brave the waters.
Guest amenities:
Restrooms, picnic tables, picnic areas, parking, drinking fountains, grills, and transport back to the livery
Cost: $10-$72 for 2 hours, depending on tube, kayak, and boat rental
Note: Shoes, not flip flops, are required to float down the river. Argo also sells water shoes for $15 if you forget your own, though. Also, the livery is only taking reservations at this time. Be sure to reserve your timeslot online.

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