Area:  Northwest Ajax

Hours of Operation: June to early September (weather permitting), 7 days/week (9 a.m. to dusk)

Installed: 2018

Age Range: all ages

Parking: some street parking on Horne Ave

Ground Cover: cement

Main Equipment: *button activated

• 1 umbrella soaker
• 2 water blasters 
• 1 spray frog
• multiple in ground fountain jets with different settings and heights

Accessibility Features: fully accessible

Facilities/Surrounding Park Area/Other:

• see Horne Park post

Seating: 1 picnic table in shaded pavilion, lots of seating along the rock wall edge of the splash pad

Shade: none on the splash pad, but right beside the splash pad there is plenty of shade from the trees

Overall assessment: A great addition to the splash pads in Ajax. It is the perfect spot for a short picnic and cool off, and has a great playground right next to it. The variations of the in ground water jets are really neat and you just have to wait for them to come on to see how they start short or tall and then change as the time elapses. If you sit along the rock wall don't worry you will not get wet as the water stops right before it reaches the wall.  You can check out our video below to see it in action!

Area:  East Courtice

Hours of Operation: end of June to late August from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., weather permitting

Age Range: all ages

Parking: some street parking on Avondale Drive

Ground Cover: soft rubber

Main Equipment: *button activated

• 1 tall spray post
• 1 spray arch
• multiple in ground fountain jets

Accessibility Features: due to the concrete lip on this splash pad there is only one location it is wheelchair accessible 

Facilities/Surrounding Park Area/Other:

• see Avondale Park post

Seating: 1 park bench facing the splash pad

Shade: none on the splash pad, but right beside the splash pad there is plenty of shade from the trees

Overall assessment: We made it finally to the last splash pad voted on our top 10 list for 2017 by you! This is a great splash pad with plenty of places to picnic and spend an entire afternoon. The spongy rubber surface makes it perfect for those just learning to walk as well (although watch out for the concrete lip surrounding the entire area). 

Area: Uxbridge

Installed: 2014

Hours of Operation: May to September from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., weather permitting

Age Range: all ages 

Parking: large parking lot at the Uxbridge Arena and Recreation Centre right at the splash pad entrance

Ground Cover: cement 

Main Equipment: 

• 3 bucket dump that spins!
• 1 large moose that spits water and has a rainfall under his belly
• 1 bear holding a fish that spits water
• 1 spray arch
• 3 small spray critters (turtle, butterfly and ladybug)
• 1 spray bubble post
• multiple in ground spray jets and fountain style jets!

Accessibility Features: wheelchair accessible

Facilities/Surrounding Park Area/Other:

• basketball net in the back parking lot pavement
• amphitheater beside the splash pad
• closest playground is Quaker Trail Park (a 5 minute walk away) **review coming soon

Seating: 6 picnic tables in the shade pavilion, multiple park benches around the splash pad as well as retaining wall rock seating

Shade: none over the splash pad, shade pavilion right beside the splash pad

Overall assessment: This is one of the best splash pads we have been to in Durham Region! It is so unique with the animal theme and spray jets! Also the random movements and power of the in ground spray jets and fountains themselves brings excitement and anticipation to the kids at play because you never know which ones will shoot out next, or if the fountains will be small or large! A couple of the smaller spray critters weren't operating when we were visiting, but that didn't impact the fun at all because there are soooo many other ways to enjoy the water! We will definitely make a day trip back to Uxbridge for this splash pad again! There are two sensor activation posts, but we couldn't tell which post activated which water features because the other kids were constantly ensuring they were always activated hahaha. There are no outdoor washrooms, but we imagine you could use the rec centre facilities if needed.

Area: South Bowmanville

Hours of Operation: end of June to late August from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., weather permitting

Age Range: all ages

Parking:  parking lot on East Beach Road in front of the park

Ground Cover: recycled rubber and concrete

Main Equipment: 

• 5 bucket dump post + 1 other bucket dump post
• whale water arch
• 2 water blasters
• 2 spray posts
• 1 water tube

Accessibility Features: wheel chair accessible

Facilities/Surrounding Park Area/Other:

• see East Beach Park post 

Seating: 2 park benches and 2 picnic tables around the splash pad itself, pavilion with additional park benches between the splash pad and playground and multiple benches throughout the surrounding park

Shade: no shade over the Splash Pad, shade from some trees and adjacent pavilion with a few park benches

Overall assessment:  Pack enough for a day out as kids will definitely be entertained for hours at this park!   With a great lakeside view and location alongside the paved waterfront trail, including a playground, there is plenty to do.  If you forget your picnic lunch don't fret as there is also a restaurant nearby (Bobby C's Marina Restaurant). 

Area: West Brooklin

Hours of Operation: June to September from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., weather permitting

Age Range: all ages

Parking: street parking on side streets Corianne Ave and Gerry Ravary Place
 
Ground Cover: cement

Main Equipment: 

• bucket dump post
• large spray post
• 2 horse water blasters

Accessibility Features: wheel chair accessible

Facilities/Surrounding Park Area/Other:

• see Carnwith Park post 

Seating: 6 park benches

Shade: some umbrella shade over the Splash Pad itself and a pergola provides shade over 2 park benches; there is also some shade from the surrounding trees


Overall assessment:  A great addition to Brooklin!  With the adjacent playgrounds it makes for hours of entertainment on a hot day with kids of all ages!

Area: Whitby North

Hours of Operation:  9am to 9pm (seasonal June to September - weather permitting)

Installed: 2007; resurfaced from rubber to concrete pad in 2009 (as the original rubber surface became slippery and unsuitable for play)

Age Range: 2 years and up

Parking: plenty of parking in the McKinney Centre parking lot off of McKinney Drive

Ground Cover: concrete

Main Equipment: 

• 1 spray arch tunnel
• 1 water blaster
• 1 bucket dump
• multiple spray posts
• multiple in ground jets

Accessibility Features: wheelchair accessible

Facilities/Surrounding Park Area/Other:

• washrooms (inside the McKinney Centre)
• see McKinney Park post
• Skate Park

Seating: 3 park benches around the Splash Pad, 3 park benches in nearby covered shelter

Shade: no shade on the Splash Pad, small covered shelter nearby

Overall assessment: A very good Splash Pad for multiple ages and well spaced out for many kids to play.  It's in a great location as kids can spend all day here with the McKinney Park playground and adjacent Skate Park right next to the Splash Pad.  Parents be on the lookout for sneaky kids trying to spray you with the multi-directional water blaster at this Splash Pad!

Area: Oshawa North

Hours of Operation: 10am - 8pm (seasonal late Spring to Labour Day weekend)

Age Range: 2 and up

Parking: plenty of parking in the lot behind the Northview Community Centre off of Beatrice Street (there is a large gravel lot behind the main community centre lot)

Ground Cover: cement

Main Equipment:

• fountain post

Accessibility Features: wheelchair accessible 

Facilities/Surrounding Park Area/Other:

• see Northview Park post

Seating: 2 benches facing the splash pad and 2 park benches in the vicinity of the playground under a pergola

Shade: none over the splash pad, but some provided by the surrounding trees

Overall assessment: I wouldn't consider this a full out splash pad.  It's more like a 'cooling station' for kids playing in the adjacent playground since it only consists of one fountain post.  It is also button activated.