100 Things to Do with Kids in Richmond, Virginia (Spring & Summer 2026, part 3)
- The West End Mom
- 5 hours ago
- 11 min read
Hey Richmond! Looking for things to do in Richmond with kids? I’ve got 100 ideas for you to try this summer with your family.
From the best parks and kid-friendly hikes to epic water parks and tree top adventures, I've curated a summer bucket list for Richmond families that will keep your family entertained, educated, and exploring all summer long!
The third part of my curated guide to summer fun around Richmond is the ultimate guide to staying cool with kids around Richmond, Virginia: RVA's Splash Parks.
Whether you’re looking for free splash pads near Richmond, VA or fun water play areas for kids this summer, this list of top splash spots will help you keep cool. And the best part?! 8 of these water play spots are open to the public and completely free to visit! No reservations, no admission cost!
*Heads Up:
*All splash parks are open as of Monday, May 18, 2026. These splash parks are traditionally open Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, weather permitting.
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10 Best Splash Parks & Water Play Spots for Kids in Richmond, Virginia
Let's get to it - here is a quick list of splash parks around Richmond! If you'd like more specifics on each park & splash pad, scroll down to each location below.
Taylor Farm Park (Henrico County Parks & Rec, free)
Dunncroft Castle Point Park (Henrico County Parks & Rec, free)
Eastern Henrico Rec Center (Henrico County Parks & Rec, free)
Dorey Park (Henrico County Parks & Rec, free)
Short Pump Park (Henrico County Parks & Rec, free)
Twin Hickory Park (Henrico County Parks & Rec, free)
Beulah Rec Center (Chesterfield County Parks & Red, free)
Stony Point Fashion Park (City of Richmond, free)
Children's Museum of Richmond (paid admission required)
Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden (paid admission required)
Top 10 Splash Parks & Water Play Spots in Richmond Area
1. Taylor Farm Park: Henrico County's newest park and splash pad opened in July 2024, and it is a must-visit this summer!
Taylor Farm Park has a splash park, mound misters and an interactive stream in the children's playground area. You can play in all the water play areas of the park. All of the surface area around the playground can get very hot on sunny days — try to wear shoes or sandals! Also, children in diapers should wear swim diapers to play.
Splash Park: The splash park is in the main play area with the three playgrounds. It's directly next to the bathrooms, which have a family bathroom too. The entire water play area has ADA surface, making it a play space for all abilities, and it's also nice for crawlers & new walkers. It has rocks for kids to hide under or run around. The water jets spray out at varying strengths, and you can turn them off and on using the control tower (blue tower with a button).
Mound Misters: The turf mounds are on the outskirts of the splash park, and the hills have misters in ground. It cools you as you walk by or as you run through them! Kids can also play, crawl and roll down the hills.
Interactive Stream: The one-of-a-kind, man- made interactive stream goes approximately 250’ long through the play area. Children can jump in the stream, sit in the stream, jump along the rocks, or enter the stream at the two zero entry points. You may want to bring some toys to race down the stream - my kids love racing their crocs!
Open: May 18 through Labor Day, 9am-7pm, weather permitting
Address: 200 Whiteside Drive, Sandston, Virginia 23150
Area of RVA: Sandston, Virginia
2. Dorey Park: The splash park is located in the very front of the park next to Dorey Park Recreation Center, so park in the first lot. This splash park is almost completely fenced in, but there isn't a gate. It has large nature-themed spray structures around the perimeter, and smaller spouts in the middle. Just outside the gate is a a covered picnic shelter.
Heads Up: This splash park has no shade in the fenced in area, and you need to walk to Recreation Center to access bathrooms. It's open 9 to 4:30 daily.
Open: May 18 through Labor Day, 9am-7pm, weather permitting
Address: Dorey Park, 2999 Darbytown Road, Henrico, Virginia 23231
Area of RVA: Eastern Henrico County
This Henrico splash park is free to visit and open to the public. You don't need to make reservations to visit!
*Check here for my review of Dorey Park.
3. Dunncroft Castle Point Park: This is my children's favorite splash park because it has so many unique water features. There's a frog structure to run through, a spinning water spout and lots of lower pressure spouts (perfect for our smallest friends).
I love this park for a lot of reasons! The splash park is completely fenced in and separate from the playground. The playground is great for children 0-5 because of the soft flooring and the ramps (full sun). My kids love running around the ramps. The bathrooms are also very close to the splash park, so it's easy to get to with little kids. This splash park has the most shaded seating - there are two sun shades that provide full shade. One has a bench under it, too. A lot of visitors do bring lawn chairs to set up inside the fenced area.
Heads Up: This is a very popular splash park. Usually, the parks clear out between 11:45-2, but at our last visit, this park had a steady crowd.
Nearby: This park is located in Glen Allen in front of Hungary Springs Middle School. Crumbl Cookie is 5 minutes away, and Starbucks with a drive thru is 5 minutes away.
Open: May 18 through Labor Day, 9am-7pm, weather permitting
Address: Dunncroft Castle Point Park, 4901 Francistown Road, Glen Allen, Virginia 23060
Area of RVA: Glen Allen, Virginia
This Henrico splash park is free to visit and open to the public. You don't need to make reservations to visit!
4. Eastern Henrico Recreation Center: The splash park has so many fun water features! Almost the entire ground has something to run through or splash in. I really like that this splash park has a fence around it too (no gate). While the water area has full sun, there are some shaded areas throughout the day due to the sun's location.
The layout of this play space is really great with little kids because the bathrooms, playground and splash park are next to each other. The picnic shelter has full shade and a full view of the playground. The playground has a large sun shade that prevents the equipment from getting too hot on summer days. It also has soft flooring - huge plus with new walkers and little kids!
Heads Up: If you visit this playground while the splash park is on, your kids will probably run straight for the water. There are no barriers between the splash park and the playground.
Open: May 18 through Labor Day, 9am-7pm, weather permitting
Address: 1440 N Laburnum Ave., Richmond, VA 23223
Area of RVA: Eastern Henrico County
This Henrico splash park is free to visit and open to the public. You don't need to make reservations to visit!
5. Short Pump Park: This splash park has multiple water spouts, and a little pool even forms near them. My kids love running through the fountains or laying in the shallow pools. These water spouts do have a strong force, so it can be a little intimidating for smaller kids. By the splash park, there are a couple picnic tables in partial shade, and there are benches in full sun. The bathrooms and picnic shelter are pretty close by - it's just a couple of steps.
Heads Up: If you visit this park while the splash park is on, your kids will probably run straight for the water. There are no barriers between the splash park and other areas of the park.
Nearby: This park is in the heart of Short Pump, so it's also near Short Pump Town Center & the movie theater. Chick-Fil-A is across the street, Starbucks with a drive-thru is 2 minutes away, and Gelati Celesti ice cream is 5 minutes away.
Open: May 18 through Labor Day, 9am-7pm, weather permitting
Address: Short Pump Park, 3329 Pump Road, Henrico, Virginia 23233
Area of RVA: Short Pump, Virginia
This Henrico splash park is free to visit and open to the public. You don't need to make reservations to visit!
6.Beulah Recreation Center: This is Chesterfield County's ONLY splash park, and it just opened in August 2025. With both a brand new splash park and brand new playground, this is a must visit park this summer! The fenced-in water play area spans 3,550 square feet with poured-in-place rubber flooring, “rock” ground sprays, a towering tree fountain, lower-powered water sprouts, bubblers & gushers, and sunshades & tables with umbrellas.
I love that this splash park is fenced in separately from the fenced playground, so you don't have to worry about your children wandering too far. The restrooms and the covered picnic shelter are directly next to the fenced-in splash park, too.
Open: May 18 through Labor Day, 10am-7pm, weather permitting
Address: Beulah Rec Center, 6901 Hopkins Road, North Chesterfield, VA 23234
Area of RVA: North Chesterfield, VA
This Chesterfield County splash park is free to visit and open to the public. You don't need to make reservations to visit!
*Check here for my full review on Beulah Rec Center's splash park!
7. Stony Point Fashion Park: Located in the City of Richmond close to Bon Air and the near West End, this open air mall has a water feature next to the children's play area that's open from Memorial Day to Labor Day. I really love all the seating around the water feature, and the extra play space that's close by too! While the rules say it's for children 42" and smaller, I've never seen anyone asked to leave who was following all of the other rules (aka not acting too wild or wearing adult swimwear). The bathrooms are not that close to the play area, so we usually change in our car or make the long walk.
Heads Up: If you visit this mall while the water feature is on, your kids will probably run straight for the water. There are no barriers between the splash park and other areas of the children's play area or the mall.
Open: April 6 through Labor Day, during mall hours, weather permitting
Address: 9200 Stony Point Parkway, Richmond, Virginia 23235
Area of RVA: City of Richmond, near to the West End and Bon Air
This City of Richmond splash park is free to visit and open to the public. You don't need to make reservations to visit!
8. Twin Hickory Park: This splash park is a lot of fun because of the unique water features like a turtle and a frog that shoot water and a giant tree! I also love how the playground, picnic tables and splash park are all close together & there is a fence around most of the play area (no gate though). This makes it easy with multiple children: one can play on the playground or the splash park while you push your baby in the swing (all areas are viewable!). This splash pad has a ledge around part of the splash park that is perfect for seating, and there are picnic tables under a sun shade too.
We also love playing here because of the sand volleyball courts. We love to bring sand toys to play with in the sand, and then cool off at the splash park.
Heads Up: The biggest downside to this park is that the bathrooms are not next to the play area. You have to walk to the other side of the parking lot.
Nearby: This park is located in Twin Hickory next to Deep Run High School. Starbucks with a drive thru is 3 minutes away, and Vampire Penguin shaved ice is 3 minutes away.
Open: May 18 through Labor Day, 9am-7pm, weather permitting
Address: 5011 Twin Hickory Road, Glen Allen, Virginia 23509
Area of RVA: Glen Allen, Virginia
This Henrico splash park is free to visit and open to the public. You don't need to make reservations to visit!
9.Children's Museum of Richmond: Located in the City of Richmond, CMoR has a splash park in its front play space: SplashMor. Daily admission includes visiting the splash park, so you could enjoy the museum, the outdoor play space and the splash park in one visit. This splash park is completely fenced in, and it's connected with the outdoor play space with a playground. While most of the splash park is in the sun, there are areas of shade near the building.
Admission Cost: Adults cost $9, children cost $9, and children under 1 are free.
Hours: This splash park is expected to open this Friday, May 22 for the 2026 season. Visit on Tuesday through Sunday from 9:30am-5pm to play!
Heads Up: If you visit CMoR between Memorial Day and Labor Day while the splash park is on, your kiddo is definitely going to want to play in the water!
Nearby: The Science Museum of Virginia is next door, and Play 60 obstacle course is 5 minutes away. Boulevard Burgers and Brews is a great spot to stop to eat or to grab shakes.
10.Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden: The waterway at Lewis Ginter was completely refurbished Lin 2024, so this space is "like new." Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden only operates their splash park in weather 70 degrees or warmer. Thunder or lightning will close the splash park for 30 minutes.
Admission Cost: Adults cost $17, youth (3-12) cost $8, children under 3 are free. Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden is a part of Museums for All - families with SNAP, WIC EBT or the FRESH EBT app receive admission for $1 per adult and children under 17 are free.
Daily admission includes the splash park, and members get to visit for free.
Hours: This splash park is open now for the 2026 season. It is open daily as long has temps stay above 70 degrees! May hours are weekdays 1-4pm, and weekend hours are 9:30am-4pm. In June, July and August, the Waterway is open from 9:30am to 4pm daily.
Heads Up: Many summer camps and daycares visited during the day between 10ish-2ish, so the splash park was very crowed. We enjoyed the water play the most from opening until 10:30 and later in the afternoon.
*Upcoming Splash Play at The Park at River City Sportsplex – New for 2026
Chesterfield County is adding another splash park to their park system! The newest water play project is expected to open in July 2026, and it will include a splash pad and water features alongside playgrounds and athletic fields.
Splash Park Tips & Tricks:
1. Wear sunscreen, SPF clothing & water shoes, and bring hats, snacks and water. All of these parks have full sun, and the pavement gets hot (all concrete). Also, water play always makes kiddos very hungry!
2. While some splash parks have seating nearby, I've found it helpful to bring lawn chairs and picnic blankets if we plan on staying the morning (or afternoon) at the park.
3. Water diapers are required for all children who aren't potty trained.
4. While my kids can have fun at the park without toys, I love to pack cups or buckets for them to play with. It helps their play last longer!
Here are a few of our favorites: Barbie, squirt toys, watering can, buckets, trucks
5. Splash parks are pretty crowded between 9:30-12. On our recent visits, we've had the splash parks to ourselves when we visited before 9:30 AM, between12-2, and after 4.
6. These splash parks are open to the public and free to visit. You don't need to be a Henrico County or Chesterfield County resident to enjoy them, and you don't need a reservation. Just show up!
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Looking for all the free things to do around Richmond, Virginia? Check out my guide to FREE things to do in RVA with kids: Free Things to do with Kids in Richmond this Summer!
For more things to do with kids around Richmond, follow me on @thewestendmom on Instagram!
