When summertime rolls around, and the temperatures rise, you and your family may look for ways to stay cool besides hiding out at home with the air conditioning. Luckily, The Woodlands has a lot of places for your whole family to beat the heat. You can choose from big aquatic centers and pools to splash pads and spraygrounds. Our Crème de la Crème of The Woodlands team invites you to check out the best places to cool down around town.

May Valley Park

May Valley Park, located at 11598 May Valley Circle, has a sprayground for everyone in your family to enjoy. There are also two sets of play equipment, one for younger and the other for older children. The park has pavilions, gazebos, picnic tables, barbecue pits, drinking fountains, restrooms, and free parking. Tennis and basketball courts are also on-site.

May Valley Park offers a colorful splash pad that your kids will love. There’s a bucket that dumps water from above, ground sprayers, and moveable sprayers for kids to turn on each other, which makes for a fun playtime as they enjoy splashing in the water. The sprayground and splash pads are open seasonally from Mar. 1 to Oct. 31, and hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. with free admission.

Timarron Park

Another wet and wild option is Timarron Park at 200 N. Green Print Circle. This park has a sprayground that will keep you all cool, plus a playground with equipment for kids of all ages, pavilions, gazebos, picnic tables, barbecue pits, drinking fountains, restrooms, and free parking. Tennis and basketball courts are also on-site for your use. The sprayground is open seasonally from Mar. 1 to Oct. 31 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Admission at Timarron Park is free, so you can bring the entire family along.

Sawmill Park

Your family can cool off from the hot Texas heat at Sawmill Park, located at 2200 Millpark Drive. Here you’ll discover play equipment for older and younger children, including theme slides, belt swings, and bucket swings. The sprayground is open daily from March 1 to October 31.

Sawmill Park also has a swimming pool for everyone to enjoy. When the pool is closed, the sprayground is open to the public from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Entrance is from the park side gates, and a pool pass isn’t required. However, when the pool is open, the sprayground opens from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., with the only entrance through the pool gates. Admission fees for residents are $7 any day of the week, while non-residents will pay $10 Monday through Thursday and $14 on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

Features of the Sawmill Pool include: 

• Maximum depth greater than 10 feet.
• Swimming lanes/lap lanes.
• Water slides.
• Diving boards.
• Partially covered baby pool.
• Baby pool slide.
• Picnic tables.

Bear Branch Pool 

Another pool near The Woodlands is the Bear Branch Pool at 5200 Research Forest Drive. This pool offers the following amenities:

• Zero-depth entry.
• A 360-degree turn flume slide.
• Swimming lanes/lap lanes.
• Whale baby slide.
• Large shallow area with a play structure.
• Maximum depth of 5 feet, 6 inches.
• Family restrooms and showers.
• Handicap accessible.

Admission fees: 

• Residents: $7 every day.
• Non-residents: $10 (Monday through Thursday).
• Non-residents: $14 (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday).

You can visit the Bear Branch Pool Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Shadowbend Park

Shadowbend Park, located at 4995 Lake Woodlands Drive, has a sprayground and a pool. There’s also a jogging trail, multi-purpose fields, sports courts, covered picnic areas, barbecue pits, a playground, and more. Similarly to Sawmill Park, when the pool is closed, the sprayground is open to the public from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., with entrance from the park side gates and a pool pass not required. The sprayground opens from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. when the pool is open, featuring access through the pool gates and standard village admission fees.

Village Green

Yet another option to help you and your littles cool down this summer is Village Green at 26400 Kuykendahl Drive. This location offers a water play structure and splash pad. You’ll also find all-weather turf fields, shade structures, drinking fountains, and picnic tables. Admission is free, and the sprayground is open seasonally from Mar. 1 to Oct. 31, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Splash Pad at Market Street

The Market Street Fountain, located at 9595 Six Pines Drive, is a public interactive water feature for kids to play in. A deck surrounds the fountain, with covered seating and free charging stations for your phone and other electronic devices, giving you a spot to supervise your children as they play. The Market Street Fountain is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday from March to October.

Rob Fleming Aquatic Center 

For rainy days or something different, you can plan a visit to the Rob Fleming Aquatic Center, located at 6535 Creekside Forest Drive. This aquatic center is packed with multiple water features and a pool with the following amenities:

• Plunge pool.
• Water slide.
• Water play structures.
• Splash pad and lap lanes.
• Lazy river with tubes provided so that you can float around.  
• Chaise/beach chair seating.
• Concessions.
• Shade structures.

Admission fees to the aquatic center are as follows: 

Under 48 inches tall:

• Residents: $10.
• Non-residents: $10.

Over 48 inches tall:

• Residents: $12 every day.
• Non-residents: $18 (Tuesday to Thursday).
• Non-residents: $24 (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday).

The Rob Fleming Aquatic Center is open year-round, Tuesday through Saturday, from 10  a.m. to 8 p.m. and from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.

Grandma’s Purse

Grandma’s Purse, located at 31 Waterway Square Place, is a public art piece with an adjacent splash pad. It’s open from mid-March to mid-October and is free to enjoy.

Does Your Family Need Child Care?

Our Crème de la Crème of The Woodlands team hopes you and your family will get out and enjoy the beautiful pools and water features around town. If you’re seeking the best daycare, child care, and preschool in The Woodlands, we’d be happy to answer any questions at 832-862-8183, or you can schedule a tour of our early learning center of excellence using our website.

smiling swimmer by liz west is licensed with CC BY 2.0