Beat the Heat at Philly’s Spraygrounds
Need a splash, but don't want to swim? Hit one of these cooling spots around the city -- no bathing suit required.

The sprayground is the water experience for everyone: Even if your kids can’t swim, they all love getting wet.
Philly is packed with playgrounds that feature a water area. Some are elaborate, some are basically a glorified sprinkler. But when the temperature is above 85, anything that sprays water is a welcome oasis, right?
Here’s a list of where to go, wherever you live. Many of the smaller spraygrounds and sprinklers are open only during the week, when Parks and Recreation employees are around to turn the water on and off. The hours listed here are subject to change, and it’s always best when dealing with city rec facilities to call ahead and double-check that everything is working. The city says all of the spraygrounds will be open by July 1.
Public pools will open on a rolling basis starting June 22; click here to see the schedule.
Destination spraygrounds
Dilworth Park
1 S. 15th St. (west side of City Hall)
10 am — 8 pm daily
This super-popular spot features programmable 3-feet-high spouts. Plus, there’s a the Dilworth Park Cafe and the Air Grille (and a Capogiro gelato cart, too!).
Sister Cities Park
18th Street and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway
10 am — 8 pm daily
The fountain area here is smaller than at Dilworth, but kids really love the boat pond, which hosts many more splashing children than toy boats.
Herron Playground
2nd and Reed Streets
11 am — 7 pm weekdays; noon — 5 pm weekends
This Pennsport favorite has a terrific dry playground, too, and draws families from all over the southern part of the city.
Venice Island Performing Arts and Recreation Center
7 Lock St.
8 am — 8 pm daily
One of the city’s newest water features, this “spray garden” in Manayunk also waters the park’s greenery.
Neighborhood gems
Starr Garden Playground
600-44 Lombard St.
9 am — 6 pm weekdays
Mount Airy Playground
7001 Germantown Ave.
11 am — 7 pm weekdays
Columbus Square Playground
1200 Wharton St.
9 am — 6 pm weekdays; 10 am — 3 pm Saturdays
Shepard Recreation Center
5700 Haverford Ave.
1 — 7 pm weekdays; 1 — 5 pm Saturdays; 1 — 4 pm Sundays
Shot Tower Recreation Center
101-31 Carpenter St.
10 or 11 am — 8 pm daily; possibly open later on weekends (NOTE: a reader reports that this week, the posted hours are 10 am — noon and 3 — 7 pm.)
Seger Recreation Center
1000-42 Lombard St.
9:30 am — 8 pm weekdays; weekend hours vary
Parkside Evans Playground
5300 Parkside Ave.
Noon — 6 pm daily
Athletic Recreation Center
1401-55 N. 26th St.
11 am — 7 pm weekdays; noon — 5 pm weekends (if the adjacent pool is open, the sprayground is open)
Ferko Playground
1101 E. Cayuga St.
Noon — 4 pm Monday and Friday; Noon — 6 pm Tuesday-Thursday; 10:30 am — 4:30 pm weekends
Mitchell Playground
3700 Whitehall Lane
9 am — 6 pm weekdays
Junod Playground
12770 Dunksferry Road
Noon — 7 pm weekdays; noon — 5 pm weekends
Chalfont Playground
4330-40 Deerpath Lane
10 am — 7 pm daily
Self-service sprayers
These sprinklers must be turned on by visitors, and turn themselves off when nobody’s using them. Don’t be fooled if you walk up and they’re not running — try the button!
Shissler Recreation Center
1800-56 Blair St.
Water is available from 9 am — 9 pm
Picariello Playground
10801 Calera Rd.
Water is available from 10 am — 8 pm
Other locations
We couldn’t get operating times and days out of these spots, but stop by and check them out.
Awbury Playground
Pleasant Playground
6720 Boyer St.
Water View Playground
5826 McMahon St.
Sturgis Playground
200-20 W. 65th Ave.
Clemente Playground
Piccoli Playground
Comegys/48th and Woodland Playground
4740 Woodland Ave.
Stokely Playground
3000 Edgemont St.
Mitchell Playground
Glavin Recreation Center
3267-81 Almond St.
Houston Playground
900 Grakyn Lane
Neighbors Park
3901 Terrace St.
Looking for a place to cool off in the suburbs? Click here for our Main Line list.
Photograph by M. Fischetti for Visit Philadelphia.
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