UPDATED AUGUST 2023.
Good Grief it’s hot this summer. If you’re looking for a way to cool off, Charlotte has plenty of options, from big ~ and sometimes pricey ~ water parks to free spray playgrounds. Here’s our guide to water fun in and around the Queen City:
FREE PUBLIC SPLASH PARKS, FOUNTAINS, AND SPRAYGROUNDS
The Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department Spraygrounds are open from Memorial Day Weekend to Labor Day Weekend. Hours are 10am – 8pm daily. Read more about County Park Facilities with Spraygrounds at this link and below.
- Clarks Creek Community Park, 5435 Hucks Road
- Nevin Park, 6100 Statesville Rd.
First Ward Park
309 E 7th St.
Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department
via Facebook
Romare Bearden Park
300 S Church St.
Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department
Part of the fun of exploring this 5.4-acre park is letting the kids run under the cascading fountain with the Charlotte skyline as the perfect backdrop.
The Fish Fountain on the Green
435 S. Tryon St.
In the middle of Uptown, kids can splash through the fish fountain, a centerpiece of the three-tire literary-themed park. There are also benches and shade for parents and family members to relax while kids play.
Little Sugar Creek Greenway aka Elizabeth Park
1127 E. 4th St.
Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department
Near the Captain Jack statue, kids can cool off on a walk along the Little Sugar Creek Greenway.
Latta Park
601 East Park Avenue
Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department
Tucked into Charlotte’s Dilworth neighborhood, Latta Park packs tons of fun into its 32 acres, including a sprayground that’s lively during summer weekends.
Cordelia Park
2100 North Davidson St.
Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department
On your way into NoDa, stop at Cordelia Park to enjoy their outdoor swimming pool, walking trails, community garden and sprayground. Double Oaks Outdoor Pool will be closed for repairs starting Monday, July 17. The pool is anticipated to re-open Tuesday, July 25. During this time, Cordelia Outdoor Pool will be open 7 days a week 12pm to 6pm. Normal hours are:
- Monday, Wednesday, Friday – Sunday: Noon to 6 p.m.
- Tuesday and Thursday: Closed
- *Pool will close 30 mins prior to facility.
- Swim sessions will take place daily from noon – 2:30 p.m. and 3 – 5:30 p.m.
Double Oaks Outdoor Pool (temp closed in July)
2014 Statesville Avenue
Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department
Double Oaks Outdoor Pool will be closed for repairs starting Monday, July 17. The pool is anticipated to re-open Tuesday, July 25. it features a 25-yard pool, zero-depth entrance with play feature, and a slide.
- In 2023, free swim lessons registration will be every Saturday starting June 17 at 10 a.m. on site.
- Lessons will be on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday starting at 10 a.m.
Veterans Park
2136 Central Ave.
Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department
In addition to a kids sprayground, this 19-acre park boasts walking trails, sports facilities, a playground and more.
West Charlotte Recreation Center
2400 Kendall Drive
Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department
In west Charlotte, families and kids will love splashing through the recreation center’s splash park.
Blakeney Shopping Center
5933 Blakeney Park Dr.
The splash pad operates June 1 through Labor Day. The hours of operation are 9am – 9pm, daily. Service is suspended during inclement weather.
For rules and guidelines, click here.
Waverly Charlotte
Providence Road and Ardrey Kell Road
Located in front of Cafe Moka/V’s Barbershop in Waverly, this splash pad is open daily from 10am to 4pm.
Steele Street Park
600 Steele Street, Fort Mill
Fort Mill’s Steele Street Park Water Spray Park (Opens Memorial Day Weekend – Closes second week of September) is open 7 days a week from 10 a.m. until 8:30 p.m.
Crooked Creek Park
5900 Oakwood Lane, Indian Trail
Indian Trail’s Crooked Creek Park offers families a one-of-a-kind playground with zip line and tunnels, walking and bike trails, swings and the park’s splash pad, which is closed on Tuesdays for maintenance.
Stallings Municipal Park – Splash pad currently closed.
340 Stallings Rd
Between Indian Trail and Matthews, the Stallings Road Park splash ground is often less crowded option for cooling off. Their webpage notes this splash pad is currently closed (July 25).
Ramsey Creek Park
18441 Nantz Road, Cornelius
Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department
Visit Mecklenburg county’s only public beach – hours are:
- Monday – Tuesday: Closed
- Wednesday – Sunday: Noon to 6 p.m.
The beach is found in a 46-acre park (open every day at 7 am) which includes a swimming area, boat docks, picnic shelters, walking trails, a dog park and more. Lifeguards will be on duty during beach hours. $5/$10 per vehicle for county residents, $10/$15 per vehicle for non-county residents.
Lake Norman Kiwanis Splashville Park
19710 South Ferry St., Cornelius
Lake Norman Kiwanis Splashville Park 2023 season will open Saturday, May 20, and remain open through Sunday, September 10. The 1300 square-foot splash pad hours are: Monday-Friday – 9 a.m.-11:30 a.m. | 1 p.m.-3:30 p.m. | 5 p.m.-7 p.m. and Saturday-Sunday & Holidays – 9 a.m.-7 p.m.
Hope Park
170 Joe Knox Blvd., Mooresville
via Facebook
In Mooresville, Hope Park’s splash pad is open 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. through Labor Day.
Clarks Creek Community Park
5435 Hucks Rd.
Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department
This newer park offers a splash pad open daily ~ 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. until Labor Day. The 31-acre park across from Clarks Creek Nature Preserve also has a dog park, playground, 8 pickleball courts and restrooms.
THE BIG and PAID WATER PARKS
Carolina Harbor Waterpark at Carowinds
300 Carowinds Blvd.
Carowinds’ waterpark, Carolina Harbor, offers over 80 play elements, from giant slides to wave pools and even a 423-gallon tipping bucket that drenches the brave park-goers below. Prepare for the slide of your life on Boogie Board Racer, the water park’s newest attraction. As the longest mat-racing slide in the Southeast, Boogie Board Racer delivers a high-speed, high-thrill experience – to round out the major fun at Carolina Harbor.
Great Wolf Lodge
10175 Weddington Rd, Concord
Enjoy a staycation at Great Wolf Lodge. Their 80,000 square foot waterpark features the Club Paw Pool for little ones and thrilling slides like the Howling’ Tornado for teens.
Ray’s Splash Planet
215 N Sycamore St.
There are endless ways to play at this waterpark that contains 117,000 gallons of water. From a giant three-story waterslide to fun for the little ones on Moon Beach, there’s something for everyone.
Charlotte-area YMCA’s offer multiple ways to stay cool. Check out the slides, play elements, splash pads and more at these YMAC locations:
Harris YMCA Pool and Splash Park
5900 Quail Hollow Rd.
Morrison Family YMCA Waterpark
9405 Bryant Farms Rd.
Brace Family YMCA Waterpark
3127 Weddington Rd.
Keith Family YMCA
8100 Old Mallard Creek Rd.
