BLUEFIELD – Children squealed with delight, ran and played Thursday as cooling sprays and fountains from Bluefield’s brand new splash pad drove away summer’s heat. The new Ridge Runner Fun Zone Splash ...

While taking the kids to a splash pad is one way to beat the heat, Upstate parks and recreation leaders want parents to be ...

Several splash pads and water parks offer alternatives to crowded beaches for summer fun. Water Wizz offers slides, a lazy river, and more. Free splash pads are available at various locations ...

Entering the splash pad at Franconia Rec Center in Fairfax County almost feels like you’re headed to a water park, with spray-ground lifeguards on duty and an ice cream stand near the entrance.

Damian Stewart, 8, plays in the splash pad at a park in South Bend, Ind., in June. Over 1,800 splash pads operate in major cities, a group says.