Water Play and Features

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Girl running through sprayground feature When the weather heats up, splash season is in full effect as Cary's water play features and installations offer an opportunity to cool off and have fun in a family-friendly atmosphere. From a large open area splash pad to water features incorporated into existing play and art structures, there are several ways to beat the heat for everyone in Cary!

Visit one of several locations to experience the thrill of water play in some of Cary's most beloved outdoor destinations.

Please note all water features at Cary parks will close for the 2024 season on September 22, 2024.

Jack Smith Park

The Sprayground at Jack Smith Park features Cary's first splash pad with seven water features and is for children age 12 and under. The Sprayground is typically open from mid-May to September from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. (weather permitting), and closes one day a month for maintenance. For operating status, visit Cary Weather Delays & Cancellations.

Downtown Cary Park

Downtown Cary Park has two water play features for cooling down on a warm day. The Sprayground is located on Academy Plaza. The Splash Pad is located in The Nest play area.

To check on the operational status of each of these features, visit Downtown Cary Park's Water Play Features page.

Misting Stations

When the weather heats up, take a rest and cool off at one of two misting art installations. These features are available in the following Cary park locations:

Neighborhood Park on Carpenter Fire Station Road

Marla Dorrell Park

Water Play Rules

For all locations; rules specific to the site are posted on the appropriate park webpage and onsite

Operating hours are subject to availability, seasonal conditions, and weather. Most water features typically operate from mid-May through mid-September, and announcements are made prior to seasonal opening and closing, repairs, and changes to operating status.
No lifeguards are on duty. Use at your own risk.
For safety, visitors must exit the water play area immediately upon any sign of thunder, lightning, or severe weather.
Swimsuits and/or appropriate attire must be worn at all times.
Swim diapers must be worn by children who are not potty trained.
No pets, food, gum, candy, drink, glass containers, or wheeled toys are allowed in splash areas.
No running or rough play.
No soaps, detergents, or shampoos are allowed.
Do not drink the splash pad water.
No skateboards, rollerblades, bicycles, scooters, or wheeled toys on the splash pad.
Any person violating rules may be required to leave the splash pad area.

Before You Go: Operation Status

Water play areas and installations are unique to their locations, surroundings, and operating system, and as such may be inoperable at times due to occasional outages, weather, repairs, or routine maintenance. While staff does its best to communicate these outages out on the relevant channels in a timely manner, it's always a good idea to check the status of the water play area before you go. For most situations, you can visit our Weather Delays and Cancellations page for updates on the operation of the Jack Smith Park sprayground and Downtown Cary Park sprayground and splash pad. The Downtown Cary Park website will also be updated with any unexpected outages at either of its water play features.