In the dog days of summer, hitting the beach is a hike and driving to a water park can be too costly, but local spray parks are a refreshing change of pace.
Ranging from small parks to ones that are practically water parks, this list can help you and your kids cool off this summer.
This 96-acre park hosts many fun activities for families, including the splash pad. 198 1st Ave., East Rockaway. Hours: 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Nassau County Leisure Pass is required.
This park offers a gorgeous garden and the shade of the trees to relax under while the kids play on the playground and splash pad. 218 Main St., Port Washington. Hours: 9 a.m.-9 p.m.
Cantiague Park offers a large sports field and an Olympic-sized swimming pool with a splash park, making it one of the most well rounded parks on the island. 480 W John St., Hicksville. Hours: 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Fee: $6 for children with leisure pass, $25 without.
This fun playground and park may be hidden away in Long Beach but its notoriety among the locals gives it a small but fun atmosphere. It has a splash pad and playgrounds for both small and big kids. 98 Clark St., Long Beach. Hours: 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
This popular park is one of the largest outdoor spaces in the New York area, offering a wide variety of family activities and a fun splash park to beat the heat. 1899 Park Blvd., Westbury. Hours: Dawn to Dusk. Fee: Adult with Leisure Pass $10; Adult without Leisure Pass $16; Children 12 and under, seniors, disabled, veterans, aux. police, active volunteer firefighter and ambulance driver with Leisure Pass $7.
This relatively new spray park, founded in July 2018 in memory of Police Sgt. Paul Tuozzolo, offers a vast play area for children with 2,500 square feet of features including push button technology for efficient water use. 100 Main St., Huntington. Hours: 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Open to residents with Resident Recreation Photo ID cards, children under 13 years old may use the spray park if their accompanying parent/guardian shows a Resident Recreation Photo ID Card.
Grant Park is small, sweet and to the point. What it lacks in the bells and whistles you would typically see elsewhere it makes up for in pure fun. 1625 Broadway (entrance on Sheridan), Hewlett. Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays, 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday.
Geiger Park has it all: a fun, interactive splash park, a large playground, picnic areas, and food services. This park is definitely a must stop for locals. Grand Blvd., Wyandanch. Hours: 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Fee: Town of Babylon residents only with recreation pass or daily entrance fee.
The brand-new Manor Field Spray Park includes an oversized baseball-themed bucket, which collects water until it tips over, drenching the entire spray pad around it. The spray park opened June 24 and is free to all Huntington Town residents for the 2022 season. East 5th St., Huntington Station. Hours not listed. Call 631-351-3089.
This pool and splash park has everything one could want to cool off from the intense summer heat: water slides, extensive sprinkler and play areas, a children’s pool, and an Olympic-sized interactive pool. 151 Phelps Ln., North Babylon. Hours: 12-7 p.m. Fee: $6 with Town of Babylon recreation pass.
This iconic splash park, dubbed Shipwreck Cove, is pirate-themed and offers a large playground and shallow pool for children to enjoy the water and have fun. South Clinton Ave., Bay Shore. Hours: 10 a.m.-5:45 p.m. Fee: Free with Pool Membership, $7 per person with a Town of Islip Recreation Card, $10 per person with proof of Town Residency, $12 for a Non-Resident, $2 for a Resident with a Town Senior Recreation Card or Permanent Town Disability Car.
This splash park on the water offers a fun space for children and parents to cool off. It’s not huge, but its spot by the beach makes up for it. South Clinton Ave., Bay Shore. Hours: 10 a.m.-5:45 p.m. Fee: Free with Pool Membership, $7 per person with a Town of Islip Recreation Card, $10 per person with proof of Town Residency, $12 for a Non-Resident, $2 for a Resident with a Town Senior Recreation Card or Permanent Town Disability Car.
This beachfront playground and splash area offers a state-of-the-art spray park with many sprinklers and other water play features to keep children happy and cool in the summer heat. Ocean Parkway, Massapequa. Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. $20 per car with proof of Town of Oyster Bay residency.
This park on the water offers an interactive spray area with lots of sprinklers and play features to stay cool in the sun. In addition, the park has picnic areas and food services for hungry beach goers looking for a place to relax and have a quick bite. 850 Venetian Blvd., Lindenhurst. Hours: 7 a.m.-10 p.m. Fee: Free with resident recreation permit or $15.
This 111-acre park offers sprawling green fields and a large Olympic-sized pool accompanied by two water slides and a large splash pad with interactive play features. 1 King Rd., Wantagh. Hours: 6:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Fee: Resident adult $10; resident child (4 to 17 years old) $6; resident senior, disabled, volunteer firefighter, ambulance corps, auxiliary police, and veterans $6; adults without Leisure Pass $25, senior or child without Leisure Pass $20.
This animal preserve and park offers a fun splash pad oasis in addition to a plethora of other reasons to visit including hiking trails and baseball fields. Because the farm is open year round it is very accessible to locals and has become very popular in the summertime. 200 New Hwy., Commack. Hours: 8 a.m.-Dusk. Fee: $12 parking permit for non-Smithtown residents.
For more guides about things to do on Long Island, visit longislandpress.com/category/everything-long-island.
Sign up for Long Island Press’ email newsletters here. Sign up for home delivery of Long Island Press here. Sign up for discounts by becoming a Long Island Press community partner here.
