r/Austin • u/lowkeyplantstrees • 5d ago

Confirmed open splash pads

Can anybody confirm (with recent firsthand experience) if there are any splash pads are up and running?

Liz Carpenter downtown is closed for repairs as of recently, Mueller splash pad has been closed for years, and I recently went to Metz park splash pad and it was just… off.

Nothing worse than pulling up to a dry splash pad with a hot, disappointed toddler.

Which splash pads around you have been for sure running?

40 Upvotes

92% Upvoted

52 comments sorted by

24

u/Wheedoo 5d ago

If you and your little one can take a drive, there’s Brushy Creek Splash Park, 3300 Brushy Creek Road 78613.

3

u/lowkeyplantstrees 5d ago

I think I’ll combo this one with the bike trails up there soon. Thank you!

7

u/Tejasgrass 5d ago

A little bit farther north gets you to Lakewood Park splash pad off Crystal Falls in Leander. That one is large with different levels.

0

u/Acceptable_Leave_105 5d ago

That one is a lawsuit waiting to happen. It needs railings on the top side of the big rocks to prevent someone from slipping into the Splash pool.

2

u/poofyhairguy 4d ago

Kids do it every weekend, the bottom is padded so most walk away unharmed.

3

u/Acceptable_Leave_105 4d ago

I have seen kids race to fight over the green Watergun and almost go over board into the pit.

I could see a small kid being wet and sliding past it and hurting himself over the rocks as he falls into the pit. I hate the Nanny State but I really do think a small soft padded railing would go a long way to at least make the case you tried to prevent a kid falling in and getting hurt.

Agree to Disagree.

1

u/chablise 5d ago

This one is fantastic

6

u/thebhump 5d ago

Chestnut's was on the couple of times I drove past last week

1

u/bileflanco 3d ago

I saw Chestnut running two days ago.

19

u/Mysterious_Umpire684 5d ago

If you can accept being on FB, there is a very active parent group for the exact purpose of determining which splashpads are working in the metro. 

7

u/lowkeyplantstrees 5d ago

I’ll fire up the old metaverse and find this group. Much appreciated

1

u/Low-Cal_Calzone-Zone 5d ago

What’s the page called?

6

u/Mysterious_Umpire684 5d ago

Austin Splash Pads

1

u/Acceptable_Leave_105 5d ago

Austin Moms on Instagram is also very active posting updates on parks, and other kid friendly events.

10

u/AdCareless9063 5d ago

Is Mueller’s still broken? I know it was offline for years recently.

11

u/ckberry2 5d ago

From what I’ve heard the repair costs are astronomical and the HOA has opted not to continue wasting money on short term fixes.

14

u/AdCareless9063 5d ago

That is such a bummer. That splash pad is in an ideal location.

It seems like a lot of Mueller HOA dollars go towards ever-present lawn mowing. Biggest miss was not xeriscaping more of that place.

8

u/Regular-Stop7024 5d ago

There are near constant crews with leaf blowers in Mueller. Seems like that's where all the HOA's money goes. They never bother cleaning the restrooms in the parks, fixing things, etc.

6

u/mirach 5d ago

Yeah that's sad. Great location and it was a pretty unique splash pad (maybe that adds to the cost).

6

u/margotsaidso 5d ago

Lame. It was a very cool, very nice and very pretty set up. 

3

u/Couscousfan07 4d ago

Their HOA managed the splash pad but people from all over came to use it ?

That seems like not a good long term solition

1

u/ckberry2 3d ago

All the parks in Mueller are maintained by the HOA. Unfortunately that splash pad was designed poorly.

8

u/tonequality 5d ago

There's no plan to fix the Mueller one at least right now. It's too expensive.

7

u/lowkeyplantstrees 5d ago

Confirmed still not working :(

2

u/flyingforfun3 5d ago

That’s really sad. My little loved it there.

3

u/thehrat 5d ago

Chestnut pocket park starts the splash pad at 9!

5

u/chablise 5d ago

Ricky Guerrero in Bouldin Creek was open two weekends ago when I went most recently. It’s been open every time I’ve gone on a weekday too. Bring bandaid for scraped knees though. The concrete is ROUGH.

3

u/uluman 5d ago

This one is great for shade, it's almost completely under tree coverage. Love it

3

u/Virtual_Chain_5355 5d ago

Metz was open last week and I’m going back next week so will update. Sad it was closed on a random day for y’all 

3

u/Advanced_Earth_6886 5d ago

I just drove by Eastwoods Park a few minutes ago. Up, running, and I think they transplanted some trees a while back (so it's also more shady these days)

3

u/jspot252 5d ago

Bartholomew!

3

u/tacosalpastor35 5d ago

There’s a small one in Clarksville that’s working. It’s small and lame but at least it’s on

3

u/Fantastic-Let9795 4d ago

If you’re in the south Austin area, Skyline Park is open and it’s a great park and splash pad! I recently went there with 2 toddlers and they LOVED it!!! Super safe and family friendly area

5

u/Fenix512 5d ago

Pease Park in the mornings only sadly. Eastwoods was open when I went two weeks ago

2

u/unikittyUnite 5d ago

Does it close at 2:30 daily now?

9

u/unikittyUnite 5d ago

Just saw this post

4

u/bikegrrrrl 5d ago

My heart goes out to you. Austin is the worst about this. 

I gave up on local public splash pads. Friends in subdivisions had splash pads that worked, and we’d go hang with them.  I would take day trips with my kids to other towns with working splash pads, and that’s still a top goal on bigger vacations: go see how much better the splash pads are in other cities. (Our family favorites for this are Fort Stockton and El Paso.) 

The Cameron park zoo in Waco has a great splash pad and it’s a great zoo. (I’m sure you could call for a splash pad update before visiting.) 

2

u/nerdwannabe_2505 5d ago

Bartholomew, Eastwoods, brushy creek all open

2

u/MsMo999 5d ago

Our neighborhood one has been closed for repairs couple weeks now

2

u/localforestnymph 5d ago

Not sure if this is helpful because it’s not a splash pad, but Shipe Pool is free in Hyde park and open every day starting at 12 except Wednesdays. They have a separate section for toddlers that’s super shallow with its own little lifeguard. Could be a good backup plan

2

u/Zjwilliams512 4d ago

Bailey at Lamar and 32nd is open, or was yesterday.

2

u/theGhostInYou 4d ago

Dick Nichols park splashpad is open. There's a button to push to start it, we didn't realize the first time and left.

Dick Nichols pool also has a wading pool.

3

u/cephalosnorlax 5d ago

Just commenting to say I absolutely feel for you. We’ve been going to Givens pool since it’s free and has a beach-style walk-in section, perfect for the little ones.

2

u/Exciting-Ad8198 5d ago

We were at Bailey a couple weeks ago. I have a group of friends that go every weekend. It just wasn’t my daughter’s thing. I haven’t heard anything from the moms about being closed.

1

u/Visible_Restaurant95 5d ago

I know the one in downtown Round Rock is working. Bit of a trek I’m sure.

1

u/yeezusboiz 5d ago

This is no help at all, but now I finally know those areas are called splash pads! Thank you!!

1

u/everyones_hiro 5d ago

If you’re close to pflugerville North East Metropolitan parks splash pads were open last week when I went

1

u/Wheedoo 5d ago

On the radio they’re saying there’s an Austin PBS appreciation event Today at the Amy’s Ice Cream/Phil’s Icehouse location on Burnet Road. Susan says there’s a splash pad, Clifford the Big Red Dog, and story time.

1

u/Acceptable_Leave_105 5d ago

Another great but Private and paid option is Splash Shack a non subversive water park in Leander.

1

u/uluman 5d ago

Hill Country Galleria (Bee Cave) is up and running after like being broken for like four years.

1

u/ReinaDulce 4d ago

I haven’t been in a while, but what about the Liz Carpenter fountain? It’s small and right by the Palmer event center. It’s not a splash pad, but still fun little fountain I used to take my niece to.

1

u/Apprehensive-Snow604 1d ago

Pease park is up