BY JD DOTSON
Make Time To Play At Our Area Water Parks
WINTER HELD ON WAY TOO LONG IN OUR AREA. IT FELT LIKE SPRING WAS HERE FOR A DAY AND A HALF, BUT SUMMER HAS FINALLY MADE ITS WAY TO OUR AREA. THE BEAUTIFUL WEATHER HAS ME ACHING FOR BIKE RIDES, PICNICS AND COOLING OFF IN THE WATER, SO I COMPILED A LIST OF THE EXTOL TEAM’S FAVORITE SPLASH PARKS IN THE REGION. DIG OUT THAT SWIMSUIT AND MEET US THERE!
Silver Street Park
2043 Silver Street
New Albany
812.949.5448
www.cityofnewalbany.com
Silver Street Park is a hidden gem to most people but one of our absolute favorite parks to play in. It includes a splash park, playground, a graffiti wall, sports complex and field, hiking and picnic areas (and tons of friendly strangers every time we’ve gone there). Free and open to the public. Closes at 9 p.m.
River Run
224 W. Daisy Lane
New Albany
812.948.5380
www.nariverrun.com
New Albany’s Family Fun waterpark has water slides, lazy river, steamboat-themed splash park, toddler and activities pools, and a bowl slide. Hours are 11 to 7 p.m. daily and prices vary depending on residency: $7 for Floyd County residents, $9 for Hoosiers and $15 for out-of-state guests. Season passes available.
Breslin Park
1388 Lexington Road
Louisville
www.louisvilleky.gov
Breslin Park sits just between downtown, Crescent Hill and the Highlands and has picnic tables, playground and sprayground. It’s free and open 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Laporte Park in Portland
2529 Bank St.
Louisville
www.louisvilleky.gov
This park features basketball courts, a playground and a sprayground. LaPorte Park is free and open 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Charlestown Family Activities Park
1000 Park St.
Charlestown
812.256.3422
www.cityofcharlestown.com
The park includes a super cool pirate-themed spray pad and playground for a mere $3 admission fee. Additional activities include roller skating, mini golf and concessions and is open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. 5 p.m. Saturday. The park is closed Sunday.
Adventure Playground/Waterplay
1201 River Road
Louisville
www.louisvillewaterfront.com
The riverfront waterpark has an impressive collection of water cannons, misters, steamboat themed playground equipment and colorful sculptures of fish spewing water from their mouths. The park is open 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. and free to the public.
Kentucky Kingdom and Hurricane Bay
937 Phillips Lane
Louisville KY 40209
502.813.8200
www.kentuckykingdom.com
The list of wet and wild water activities at Hurricane Bay is exhaustive – but in a good way. Conquistador Canyon, Deep Water Dive, Forbidden Passage, Waikiki Wipeout, Plummet Summit, Voodoo Express and (my favorite) Mega Wedgie all sound fear-inducing and awesome. Milder cool fun is aplenty at the park in a lazy river, family splash park and milder slides and activities for smaller ones. The park is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and depending on where you are coming from, the $44.95 general admission and $39.95 child admission will also get you into Kentucky Kingdom.
