Splash Pads in Idaho: Where to Cool Off This Summer

Boise and Eagle

In Boise, start with Bowler Park. Its splash pad shares about 11 acres with a skate park, a dog park, bocce, disc golf and a playground with slides and a merry-go-round. Comba Park is smaller, about 3 acres, and pairs its splash pad with a playground that has a merry-go-round and a seesaw. A shade structure and a pavilion with picnic tables give you somewhere to sit out of the sun.

Over in Eagle, Reid Merrill Park has a splash pad and a pond on about 9 acres, plus a playground, basketball and volleyball courts and walking and bike paths. Stephen C. Guerber Park runs about 16 acres with a splash pad, a playground and a ball field. A shade structure, a pavilion and restrooms make it easy to stay past lunch.

Meridian and Star

Several of Meridian's splash pads sit in big parks. Discovery Park covers about 60 acres with a splash pad, a skate park, a bike park and a dog park, plus a playground, tennis and pickleball courts and a shade structure, so a family can split up and meet back at the water. Julius M. Kleiner Park is about the same size and pairs its splash pad with an amphitheater, a playground with swings and slides, bocce and concessions.

At about 58 acres, Settlers Park mixes its splash pad with a playground, a multi-use field, tennis and pickleball courts and horseshoes. Hillsdale Park runs about 10 acres with a splash pad, a playground, a walking path and fitness equipment. For a quick cool-down, Generations Plaza on North Main Street is a splash pad in a plaza of about a fifth of an acre. In Star, Pavilion Park has a splash pad and a playground on about 5 acres, with a basketball court and a multi-use field.

Coeur d'Alene, Post Falls and Rathdrum

McEuen Park is the one to plan a day around in Coeur d'Alene. On about 22 acres it puts a splash pad and a playground alongside a boat launch, a dog park, tennis and pickleball courts and a shade structure, and the North Idaho Centennial Trail connects to it. Bluegrass Park adds disc golf and tetherball to its splash pad, and Landings Park pairs one with a playground, tennis courts and horseshoe pits.

In Post Falls, Syringa Park and Tullamore Park each pair a splash pad with an amphitheater and a playground, and Tullamore adds pickleball and horseshoes. Beck Park leans on pickleball and open lawn alongside its splash pad. Up in Rathdrum, Majestic Park adds a climbing wall to its splash pad and playground, on about 10.5 acres with a baseball field.

Nampa and Middleton

Piccadilly Park in Middleton has both a splash pad and a skate park on about 6 acres along Willow Creek. A playground, a shade structure and a walking trail round it out.

In Nampa, Orah Brandt Park mixes its splash pad with disc golf, a rose garden, a playground and a shade structure on about 29 acres. Midway Sports Park is bigger, about 51 acres with a ball field and bleachers, pickleball courts, fitness equipment and a splash pad.

Eastern Idaho

McCowin Park in Ammon has a swimming pool next to its splash pad, so older kids can swim while the little ones splash. Its roughly 20 acres also hold a playground, a pavilion, tennis and pickleball courts, and walking and bike trails.

In Idaho Falls, Reinhart Park has a splash pad, a playground and a ball field on about 9 acres along the East Lateral, with a pavilion and restrooms. Pioneer Park in Iona has a splash pad, a playground and a pavilion on just under 2 acres.

Up in Rexburg, Porter Park is worth the drive. Kids get a carousel, a splash pad and a playground with swings and monkey bars, and the park adds an amphitheater and a shade structure on about 11 acres.

Pocatello, Twin Falls and Southern Idaho

In Pocatello, O.K. Ward Park covers nearly 40 acres with a splash pad, a playground, grills and a pavilion, so it works for a cookout. In Chubbuck, Stuart Park has a splash pad, a playground and a walking path on about 3 acres.

Twin Falls has a splash pad at Downtown Commons and another at First Federal Bank Park, where it comes with a playground and a pavilion with picnic tables. Neptune Park in Rupert pairs a splash pad and a playground with disc golf, tennis and horseshoes. In Paul, Paul Community Park has a splash pad, a playground and a pavilion on about 12 acres, with a walking path and horseshoes.

In Ketchum, Atkinson Park puts a splash pad and a playground on about 18 acres with tennis, pickleball and volleyball courts and a ball field. The Wood River Trails run past it.

McCall, Fruitland and Lapwai

Legacy Park is worth a trip on its own. On about 2 acres in McCall, it pairs a splash pad with a beach and a dock, plus a volleyball court and open lawn.

In Fruitland, Crestview Park and Fruitland Community Park each have a splash pad and a playground on an acre or two, with a pavilion and restrooms. Lapwai City Park fits a splash pad, a playground, a climbing wall and fitness equipment into just over an acre in Lapwai.