Five years ago, if you had told this Southern Virginia beach bum that 70 degrees was perfect weather for a day in the sun at a local, free splash pad, you would’ve gotten a side eye and a quick, “Eww!” Fast forward to several times this summer where you can find me and my small band of heathens soaking wet and basking in the windy 70-80 degree goodness that can be found in wonderful Southeast Idaho! Most other places in the country, people don’t play in cold water until the temperatures rise to the mid-80s, but here in cold, windy Idaho, 70 degrees is warm enough for an awesome (Did I mention FREE!?) family activity!
The splash pad in Ammon is located at McCowin Park between the Ammon City Pool and the disc golf course. It is a super fun way to spend a morning/afternoon getting some sun or maybe a bit of alone time in the shade—I tend to opt for the shade with a book and a cold drink! We first discovered this gem in May of this year and we’ve already been 6 times since then! The kids love throwing on their bathing suits and piling into the car! We have spent anywhere from 1-5 hours there and, with ample shade, my littles have even napped while the bigs kept playing! One of the stand-out things about this splash pad versus others I’ve visited in the past is that it is next to a playground so the kids can alternate between playing in the water and playing on the playground! Since both are within eyesight, I’m happy to let them be feral free!
A few tips to get you through your own splash pad experience:
- Make sure you pack plenty of sunscreen. We opt for a Mineral SPF 50 sunscreen from Young Living Essential Oils and I apply on the hour, every hour to be safe. My kids did not get my beautiful, brown sun-hardy skin, so I play it safe.
- Pack a lunch and plenty of drinks, as the pool snack shack may not be open.
- The new bathroom facility is a tan building with a green roof near the parking lot. A timer locks the doors at 8:00pm, and one door is always open on Sundays.
- If you get there and the park is off (or it turns off while you’re there), the magic power sensor is located on a red, waist-high post between the slides and the pool. Gently hold your thumb over the sensor and the fountains will magically come on!
- There are picnic tables with umbrellas, but sitting on those benches can be uncomfortable, so we like to take our folding chairs and I always take my pre-packed park bag (look for what’s in that magical sack in a future post!)
So there you have it! I hope you’ve enjoyed or will enjoy the Ammon Splash Pad and I hope you’ll tell us all about it!
