Splish Splash: A Guide to {Free} Spray Parks in Collin County

A trip to the splash pad with my kiddos is by far my favorite pastime each summer: no need for life jackets, appropriate for a wide age range of kids, and typically located next to a playground. There are several awesome splash pads in city rec centers or neighborhoods with pools, but those cost money. Below is our guide to FREE splash pads right here in Collin County!

splash pads in mckinney planoCelebration Park | Allen

I’ve written about this park before; it’s one of my favorite spots in Collin County! Head over to this spray ground that boasts a shady hill, sprawling playground, and covered picnic tables. Closed on Wednesdays for maintenance.

Large splash pad
Accessible playground
Picnic tables and pavilion

Frisco Commons (Hope Park) | Frisco

This is a hot spot in the middle of the summer, so I recommend going early to beat the crowds. The spray ground has interactive water features and even a few spots perfect for crawlers or early walkers. You can post up on the green grass surrounding the park or snag a covered picnic table for lunch. Don’t forget—this park also includes a giant playground and a walking trail to a small pond.

Large splash area with covered picnic tables
Open daily but gets crowded quickly; best to go on off-peak hours
Large castle-themed playground next door (Hope Park)

Frisco Commons splash pad
Frisco Commons

City of McKinney

McKinney has really spoiled us with splash pads at different parks across the city. Chances are, if you live near McKinney, one of these parks is close by! There’s even a dog-friendly spray ground at Bonnie Wenk Park. While many of these city park water features are basic, you can’t beat the convenience of so many locations. Click here to see which park is near you!

Splash Park at Westridge (Dr. Mack Hill Park) | McKinney

We discovered this cute splash park in a friend’s neighborhood on the far west side of McKinney. The splash area is large and there are two different parks, covered picnic tables, and a big grassy area to play ball.

Al Ruschhaupt Park Splash Pad | McKinney

Splash pad
Lots of shade
Accessible playground
Right off the highway and close to Downtown McKinney

toddlers at McKinney splash pad, splash pads in collin county
Al Ruschhaupt Park

Fairview Fountain | Fairview

Located just north of Allen (off Stacy Rd. and 75), this fun spray ground is the perfect family date night! Gloria’s Latin Cuisine has a patio adjacent to the water feature and a small grassy area. Be sure to check the Fairview Town Center link above before you go for updates on the fountain status.

Small, unique splash area
Near the restaurants and volleyball court

The Beach at Little Elm Park | Little Elm

Technically not a splash park, but there’s water to splash in and a park to play at…so it counts, right? This awesome park has a full day’s worth of fun to offer. You can swim or splash at the beach area, hang out on the playground, play sand volleyball, or grill at one of the pavilions. Located on the lake, this park is a blast for playdates during the week or BBQs with the whole family on the weekend.

McCord Park Splash Pad | Little Elm

Splash pad with small playground
Open daily during the summer
Next to a playground
Dog park, walking trails, a fishing pond, disc golf course

Little Elm splash park, splash pads in collin county
Little Elm splash park

Slayter Creek Park | Anna

Closed on Mondays
Large splash pad
Covered playground
Plenty of picnic space

Windhaven Meadows Park | Plano

Unique splash area
ADA-approved accessible playground (Liberty Playground)
Trails
Picnic areas

Windhaven Meadows Park splash pad, splash pads in collin county
Windhaven Meadows Park

Frontier Park | Prosper

Splash pad
Fun and unique park
Rentable pavilions
Sports fields
Walking trails

Oak Hills Splash Park | Carrollton

Large splash area with mini playground
Shaded area for parents
Picnic area

Klyde Warren Park | Dallas

While it’s not located in Collin County, one of our favorite spots to venture to is Klyde Warren Park in Dallas. There’s a spray ground area just for kids and a large open fountain, both of which are great options for cooling off. Combine this with lunch at the food trucks, a visit to the Dallas Museum of Art, or a trolley ride downtown to make it a day!

Unique splash area for the kids
Food trucks and restaurants
Great views of downtown

kids playing at Klyde Warren park
Klyde Warren Park splash pad

Read More: Where to Find Splash Pads In Dallas

What to know before a trip to a splash pad:

  1. Wear (and reapply) sunscreen! Blue Lizard is hands-down the best I’ve tried.
  2. Bring snacks, but eat them away from the fountains. Little pieces of snack bags, lids, etc., can damage the equipment and stop the fun.
  3. Go during down hours. It’s less crowded first thing in the morning (8–9am), during that late lunch/nap hour (1–2pm), and around dinner time.
  4. Wear water shoes. A lot of these spray parks are located on hot concrete and near a playground. Wearing water shoes means your kiddos can seamlessly transition in between playground (watch out for those slick spots!) and splash pad.
  5. Don’t forget a towel or cover-up for the trip home. I always forget the towels and then have angry, cold kiddos on the drive home!!

Originally written by Lisbeth Van Daalen in 2017. Updated with current info!

Where are your kids splashing this summer?

Sarah Spencer
Sarah was raised in Plano, took a detour in Oklahoma for college, and now lives in McKinney. She's a teacher and mom who believes that 10 three year olds are easier to handle than one. Sarah and her husband, Nathaniel, are foster and adoptive parents and advocates. Big fans of deep conversations, they run a blog that helps parents connect with their kids over entertainment. She likes to try DIY projects that are way over her head and experiment with different teas and chocolates while binge-watching great series. Follow Sarah at Down the Hobbit Hole Blog and follow on Facebook or Instagram for her movie and book guides for parents.