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!
Bicentennial Park Splash Pad
2751 Packard St, Ann Arbor
a2gov.org | 734-794-6000
What’s cool: This is the newest splash pad in town. Bicentennial Park, located at 2901 E. Ellsworth Road, recently opened its new splash pad up for the season. It is designed for all abilities to have fun with a level surface and barrier-free features.
Rutherford Pool
975 Congress St, Ypsilanti
forpool.org | 734-482-4401
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.
Rolling Hills Water Park
7660 Stony Creek Rd, Ypsilanti
ewashtenaw.org | 734-484-9676
What’s cool: Open Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day, Rolling Hills Water Park has everything you need— 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.
Plymouth Sprayscape
46640 W Ann Arbor Trail, Plymouth
plymouthtwp.org | 734-453-3567
What’s cool: Approximately 2600 square feet of fun for kids of all ages. The sprayscape, open from 10am-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.
Blue Heron Bay
3200 Jennings Rd, Whitmore Lake
washtenaw.org/parks | 734-449-4437
What’s cool: Part of the Independence Lake General Park, this “spray 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. There is even a concessions stand!
Guest amenities: First aid services, family changing rooms, showers, diaper changing stations, and coin lockers.
Buhr Park Pool
2751 Packard St
a2gov.org | 734-794-6234
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.
Veterans Memorial Park Pool
2150 Jackson Ave
a2gov.org | 734-794-6235
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.
Heritage Park Splash Pad
46000 Summit Pkwy, Canton
canton-mi.org/148/Splash-Playgrounds | 734-394-5323
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
Fuller Park Pool
1519 Fuller Rd
a2gov.org | 734-794-6236
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 “Dive-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.
Lily Pad Springs
6200 Farmington Rd., West Bloomfield Township
wbparks.org. | 248-451-1900
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.
Guest amenities: Free public lockers, restrooms, outdoor showers, ADA and Universally accessible
Argo Canoe Livery
1105 Longshore Dr., Ann Arbor.
734-794-6241.
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
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.
