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Updated: June 2024
Looking for beat-the-heat water fun on a steamy summer day? Head to a Cape Cod splash pad!
They're totally kid-friendly, parent approved ... and free!
Cape Cod's splash pads (a/k/a "splash decks") are nifty little outdoor play areas with interactive features that dump, sprinkle and spray cool water from above, below and all around.
They're a perfect alternative to the beach for:
*Note: Open days and times for all splash pads are subject to change due to weather conditions and other unforeseen circumstances.
Sandy Pond Recreation Area
482 Buck Island Road
West Yarmouth, MA
Open: June 1st to Columbus Day, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, except Wednesdays when it's closed until noon for routine maintenance.
From the minute the gates first swung open at Yarmouth's new accessible playground and splash deck in June 2023, it's been a huge hit with Cape Cod vacationers and locals, too!
Amenities include:
Want more?
There's also a freshwater pond with a small beach, a basketball court, soccer and softball fields, tennis courts, walking trails and a dog park here.
Pack a picnic lunch and spend the afternoon!
For more info about Yarmouth's Inclusive Playground & Splash Deck, contact: Town of Yarmouth Recreation Department
Buzzards Bay Play Space
90 Main Street
Buzzards Bay, MA
Open: Mid-June to September, every day except Tuesdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
The splash pad at Buzzards Bay Play Space is a popular cool-off spot on the northern ("mainland") side of the Cape Cod Canal.
Amenities include:
Families especially enjoy coming to this splash pad because it's just one of so many fun things to see and do at the Canal, like ...
Bicycling, fishing, bird watching. Frame-worthy photo ops of Coast Guard vessels, tugboats, private yachts, and cruise ships transiting the waterway. Shopping and dining on Main Street. Summer evening concerts in the park.
It's easy to make a full-day outing here, for sure!
For more info about Buzzards Bay Play Space & Splash Pad, contact: Town of Bourne Recreation Department
* Good to Know *
At the splash pads on Cape Cod, most water features are manually operated.
Look for a large round button (it might be on a separate stand), press the button, then wait a moment for the spray to start!
524 Main Street
Mashpee, MA
Open: Early June to September, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.
Amenities include:
Mashpee Splash Pad and the adjacent Edward C. "Tiger" Long Playground are part of Heritage Park, a large recreation complex that also includes a basketball court, softball diamond and soccer field.
So if your older kids have no interest in the splashing with the little ones, there's plenty to keep your tweens and teens happy here,
too.
*FYI: Less than a mile away there's Dunkin' (401 Main Street) for a quick bite and Cape Cod Coffee Roasters (10 Evergreen Circle) for a real meal to take out or eat in.
For more info about Mashpee Splash Pad, contact: Town of Mashpee Recreation Department
Do Cape Cod's splash pads charge admission or parking fees?
Admission and parking are free.
Are there age restrictions for use of the splash pads?
All ages are welcome.
Are the splash pads staffed by lifeguards?
No. Children must be eyes-on supervised by a parent/guardian or other responsible adult at all times.
Are there any rules of use we should know about?
Rules are set by the town and posted at each location. Here are some important ones to keep in mind: