Last summer, my son Gordie and I visited all the official spray parks and wading pools in Calgary. They were each fun in their own way, and are all a little different. Water play areas in Calgary typically open in mid-June and close September 1. These dates can vary depending on the weather and the specific location. Check out the spray parks and wading pools listed to determine if they are a good fit for your family’s summertime fun needs!
Spray Parks
Bowness Park - 8900, 48 Avenue NW. The spray park at Bowness is just one of Bowness Park’s many family-friendly features. The spray park itself is Calgary’s oldest spray park. The sprays are all identical and are located inside what appears to be an old wading pool. The area is nice and shady and located right next to a playground. There are also lots of picnic tables and green space.
Canmore Park - Triwood - 19 Street and Chicoutimi Drive NW. Canmore Park’s Butterfly Spray Park opened in 2011. It has multiple different spray features - some big and some little - and will appeal to children of all ages. There isn’t a playground nearby, but there is a large park area with lots of room to run around.
Rotary Park - Crescent Heights - 617, 1 Street NE. Rotary Park’s Fish Spray Park also opened in 2011. There are a variety of big and little spray features, as well an excellent playground located nearby. There are also lots of picnic areas and green space.
Somerset Park - Somerset - 999 Somerset Drive SW. This spray park has a number of different spray features, but it may be a little intimidating for younger children. There are some small sprays, but they are located toward the centre of the spray park. Three small playgrounds are located just around the corner.
Valleyview Park - Dover- 28 Street and 30 Avenue SE. The spray park and preschool playground are both inside a fenced area at Valleyview. There are lots of small sprays to play with at the edges that will definitely be a hit with younger kids. It might not hold the attention of older children, but luckily, just up the hill is an excellent playground for school-aged kids.
Variety Children’s Park - South Glenmore - 90 Avenue and 24 Street SW. The South Glenmore spray park is located in the centre of the Variety Children’s Park. The entire play area is designed to be accessible to all children. In addition to the spray park, there is a preschool playground and a school-aged playground with ramps.
Wading Pools
Eau Claire - 3 Street and Riverfront Avenue SW. Eau Claire has two wading pools side by side. One of the wading pools has a few sprayers that the kids can spin around in. There is also a toddler playground right beside it. There is an excellent playground at Prince’s Island Park, which is only a short walk away.
Prairie Winds Park - Westwinds/Castleridge - 233 Castleridge Boulevard NE. Prairie Winds Park has a large wading pool, as well as a smaller and shallow wading area with spray features. Right outside the fence, there is a playground for kids ages five to 12. There is a concession set up on busy days. A second brand new playground is a short walk away.
Riley Park - Hillhurst - 800, 12 Street NW. Riley Park has a large wading pool, which varies in depth from a couple of feet to ankle-deep. It has a very pretty setting with large mature trees and an island in the centre. On busy days, there is also a concession. Riley Park also has a playground for kids of all ages, which is a short walk across the park.
Dana spends her free time seeking out the best indoor and outdoor places to play in Calgary with her son and blogging about them. For more information, visit www.calgaryplaygroundreview.com.
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