Ocala keeps summer water play close and mostly free. Lily's Splash Pad on the north side and Citizens' Circle downtown both cost nothing, Marion Oaks covers the south end of town, and Jervey Gantt Aquatic Fun Center adds a real water slide for kids ready for more than ground sprays. Belleview's Wilma Loar splash pad is a short drive south if you want a change of scenery.

Top-Rated Splash Pads Near Ocala

1. Citizens' Circle Splash Pad (Ocala)

Location: 151 SE Osceola Ave, Ocala, FL 34471

Ocala👶 Best for All ages💲 Free🚗 0.1 mi

Free, central, and easy to combine with a downtown stop. Citizens' Circle Splash Pad puts water play right in historic downtown Ocala, with benches and public art around the splash area for the adults.

Good to know: downtown location, gentle spray features, public art, benches, restrooms. Closed outside seasonal hourss.

Parent tip: Pair it with the downtown market if you're visiting on a Saturday. It's a short walk from Citizens' Circle.

Want to check if the fountains are running today? See live maintenance updates on the official Citizens' Circle portal.

2. Lily's Splash Pad (Ocala)

Location: 2200 NW 17th Place, Ocala, FL 34475

Ocala👶 Best for All ages💲 Free🚗 1.7 mi

Shaded pavilions make this an easy full-morning stop. Lily's Splash Pad pairs its water jets and dump buckets with real shade structures and a playground, so the whole visit doesn't have to happen in direct sun.

Good to know: water jets, ground sprays, dump buckets, playground, shaded pavilions, restrooms. Closed outside March-November seasons.

Parent tip: Go right at sunrise opening in summer, the shaded pavilions fill up fast once school lets out for the day.

3. Jervey Gantt Aquatic Fun Center (Ocala)

Location: 2390 SE 36th Ave, Ocala, FL 34471

Ocala👶 Best for All ages, ADA-compliant zero-depth entry💲 $🚗 2.4 mi

Ocala's biggest aquatic center, with a splash pad built in. Jervey Gantt Aquatic Fun Center combines a water slide, a waterfall feature, and a splash pad area with zero-depth entry pools, lifeguards on duty throughout. Admission is $3 for kids 17 and under and $5 for adults, typically open Tuesday through Saturday in summer.

Good to know: water slide, waterfall feature, splash pad area, lifeguards on duty, zero-depth entry. Closed Sundays and Mondays typical off-seasons.

Parent tip: This is the paid option with a real water slide, budget the extra dollars if the kids are past the free-pad stage.

4. Wilma Loar Splash Pad (Belleview)

Out of Ocala, plan for about 17 min in the car, which makes Belleview an easy weekday-afternoon trip from Ocala.

Location: 5615 SE 110th Street, Belleview, FL 34420

Belleview👶 Best for All ages, split into toddler/4-7/8-plus zones💲 Free🚗 11.5 mi

Belleview's newly refreshed splash pad, split into three age zones. Wilma Loar Splash Pad covers 2,400 square feet with 18 play features divided by age (toddler, 4-7, and 8 and up), including a frog-shaped car wash sprayer and a central umbrella shower. Free, open Monday through Saturday 8am to 6pm, with restrooms, picnic tables, and a covered playscape with slides on site.

Good to know: central umbrella shower, water jets, spray cannons, covered playscape, restrooms. Closed Sundayss.

Parent tip: The zones split by age (toddler, 4-7, and 8-plus), so it's easy to let different-aged siblings each find their own spot.

For weather closures, seasonal restrictions, or maintenance schedules, view the Wilma Loar city page.

5. Marion Oaks Splash Pad (Ocala)

Location: 294 Marion Oaks Lane, Ocala, FL 34473

Ocala👶 Best for All ages💲 Free🚗 12.5 mi

Worth knowing about if you're south of downtown Ocala. Marion Oaks Splash Pad serves the southern part of greater Ocala with a free, simple splash pad and playground combination.

Good to know: ground sprays, picnic areas, playground. Closed outside seasonal hourss.

Parent tip: It's attached to the Marion Oaks Community Center, so restrooms and a covered area are always close if the weather turns.

See upcoming kids events in Ocala →

How we picked these

We picked public, city-run splash pads over anything private or HOA-only, and confirmed each one's hours, features, and whether it's free or paid. At least one pick sits inside Ocala city limits, and one comes from nearby Belleview. Distances are measured from downtown Ocala.

Planning your visit

Most Ocala splash pads run March through November, sunrise to sunset, and close down for the cooler months. Bring water shoes for hot concrete, sunscreen even under the pavilions, and swim diapers for toddlers, most pads require them. Jervey Gantt is the one paid stop and the only one with lifeguards on duty.

For more kids' events near Ocala this week, see the Ocala events page.

Ocala Splash Pad Checklist

  • Two towels and a dry change of clothes per kid: wet swimsuits on a hot car seat are miserable.
  • Water shoes: rubber soles grip wet concrete; bare feet burn on pavement between jets.
  • SPF 50+ sunscreen, applied 15 min before arrival: Citizens' Circle Splash Pad and most Ocala splash pads have minimal shade, so a portable canopy extends your session past midday.
  • Your own water bottle: splash pad water recirculates through a filtration and chlorination system and is not safe to drink, even when it runs clear.

Swim Diapers and Water Hygiene

  • Swim diapers only for children not yet potty trained, regular diapers absorb recirculating water, swell, and can contaminate the shared system. Most municipal splash pads require them.
  • Don't swallow the water: it's treated recreational water, not drinking water. Repeated swallowing can cause gastrointestinal illness.
  • Rinse off after with soap and water. Keep kids with open wounds or a recent stomach illness out of places like Lily's Splash Pad, standard filtration doesn't remove all pathogens instantly.

Ocala Splash Pads, Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best splash pads for kids near Ocala, FL?

Our 2026 guide picks 5 standout splash pads within about 15 miles of Ocala. The top picks include Citizens' Circle Splash Pad, Lily's Splash Pad and Jervey Gantt Aquatic Fun Center, each chosen for kid-friendly layout, parent reviews, and how well it holds up on a weekend visit.

Which splash pads near Ocala are free?

4 of the 5 splash pads in this guide are free to visit, including Citizens' Circle Splash Pad, Lily's Splash Pad and Wilma Loar Splash Pad. The rest charge admission. Check the individual cards above for prices.

What is the closest splash pad to Ocala?

Citizens' Circle Splash Pad is the closest pick at under a mile from Ocala. It's the easiest one to fit into a weekday afternoon, short drive, low commitment, easy to leave early if the kids melt down.

When do Ocala splash pads open and close for the season?

Most Ocala-area splash pads open Memorial Day weekend (late May) and run through Labor Day or mid-September, depending on weather and maintenance. Hours typically run 10 a.m.–8 p.m. daily, check each splash pad's official page (linked in the cards above) before driving out, since closures for cleaning and weather are common.

Are the splash pads near Ocala open right now?

It depends on the day. Many Ocala-area pads run on heat-activated sensors or set seasonal hours (often 10 a.m.–8 p.m.), and some close one weekday for cleaning or shut off in bad weather. Before you load up the car, check the official page linked on each card above, it carries the current day's hours and status.