Within 20 miles of Anthony, TX · Updated 2026-07-13Anthony sits right on the Texas-New Mexico line, and the desert heat here makes water play less optional than most places. The town doesn't have its own splash pad yet, so families head into Canutillo or El Paso for these five spots, all confirmed free with real working water features.
Top-Rated Splash Pads Near Anthony
1. Outlet Shoppes at El Paso Dancing Fountains (Canutillo)
For Anthony families, plan about 10 min each way, and Canutillo is easy to get around once you're there.
Location: 7051 S Desert Blvd, Canutillo, TX 79835
Closest water play to Canutillo proper, no drive required. The Outlet Shoppes dancing fountain on Desert Blvd isn't a city spray park, but kids run through it the same way. Free entry, on-site dining, and 100+ stores mean the whole family finds something to do. Weekdays are quieter if the mall crowd bothers you.
Good to know: dancing water fountain, splash area, stroller friendly, nearby dining, free parking.
Parent tip: This is a fountain, not a dedicated splash pad, so hours follow the mall's operating hours rather than a set water-play schedule. Go on a weekday morning to skip the shopping crowds.
Want to check if the fountains are running today? See live maintenance updates on the official Outlet Shoppes at El Paso Dancing Fountains portal.
2. Grandview Spray Park (El Paso)
A proper outing from Anthony at 15.3 miles, but the scale here is hard to match closer to Anthony.
Location: 3100 Jefferson Ave, El Paso, TX 79930
North-central El Paso families rely on Grandview as their neighborhood free spray park in El Paso, TX, with shaded seating and picnic tables that make it easy to spend a full afternoon. The Jefferson Avenue location puts it close to several neighborhood playgrounds, so kids can bounce between water play and the swings.
Good to know: spray features, shaded areas, picnic tables, splash pad, playground, swings.
Parent tip: Pack snacks: there's no concession stand, but the picnic tables are plentiful and shaded.
For weather closures, seasonal restrictions, or maintenance schedules, view the Grandview Spray Park city page.
3. Westside Community Spray Park (El Paso)
Not a quick stop from Anthony at 17.5 miles, so it's best combined with other El Paso stops to make the drive worthwhile.
Location: 7400 High Ridge Dr, El Paso, TX 79912
The westside's best free cool-down spot for families is Westside Community Spray Park on High Ridge Drive, a convenient free splash pad in El Paso, TX for neighborhoods near the Franklin Mountains foothills. Shaded seating and picnic tables keep parents comfortable while kids work through the spray features.
Good to know: spray features, shaded areas, picnic tables, splash pad, trails, pavilion.
Parent tip: Bring water shoes: the spray pad surface can get extremely hot on triple-digit afternoons.
4. San Jacinto Plaza Splash Pad (El Paso)
From Anthony, budget about 28 min each way, but El Paso has enough to fill a full morning out.
Location: 114 W Mills Ave, El Paso, TX 79901
Downtown El Paso's go-to free spray park sits in the heart of San Jacinto Plaza, where water jets shoot randomly from the ground to keep kids on their toes at this free splash pad in El Paso, TX. Its central location makes it easy to combine with a downtown lunch or a stroll through the historic plaza, and the open concrete pad is stroller-friendly.
Good to know: ground jets, interactive splash, downtown location, splash pad.
Parent tip: Street parking fills fast on weekends. The Convention Center parking garage is one block away.
5. Chamizal Community Spray Park (El Paso)
Worth the 19.8-mile drive from Anthony, and El Paso has more than enough to justify the trip.
Location: 2119 Cypress Ave, El Paso, TX 79905
Chamizal's picnic tables actually solve the heat problem. Most spray parks have zero shade, but Chamizal includes real covered picnic tables where I can sit in shadow while my kids spray off. The riverside walking paths through Chamizal National Memorial are gorgeous for cooling down after the kids have spent their energy, and it all ties together naturally.
Good to know: spray features, shaded areas, picnic tables, water jets, splash pad, pavilion.
Parent tip: No lifeguards are on duty, so keep a close eye on toddlers near the water jets.
How we picked these
We pulled these from real venue data within reach of Anthony: confirmed splash pads, spray parks, or interactive fountains, not paid waterparks or private amenities. Every pick here is free. We weighed distance against how much water play is actually on offer, a fountain at a shopping center counts, but a full spray park with dump buckets ranks higher.
Planning your visit
Anthony and the surrounding El Paso valley run hot and dry from May through September, so morning or evening visits beat the midday sun by a wide margin. Most of these spots run seasonally with hours that shift by month, so check before driving the extra distance into El Paso. Sunscreen and water shoes matter more here than almost anywhere else in Texas.
For more kids' events near Anthony this week, see the Anthony events page.
Anthony 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: Outlet Shoppes at El Paso Dancing Fountains and most Anthony 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 Grandview Spray Park, standard filtration doesn't remove all pathogens instantly.
Anthony Splash Pads, Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best splash pads for kids near Anthony, TX?
Our 2026 guide picks 5 standout splash pads within about 20 miles of Anthony. The top picks include Outlet Shoppes at El Paso Dancing Fountains, Grandview Spray Park and Westside Community Spray Park, each chosen for kid-friendly layout, parent reviews, and how well it holds up on a weekend visit.
Are splash pads near Anthony free?
Yes, every splash pad in this guide is free to visit, with no admission fee or ticket required for Outlet Shoppes at El Paso Dancing Fountains, Grandview Spray Park, Westside Community Spray Park or any of the other picks.
What is the closest splash pad to Anthony?
Outlet Shoppes at El Paso Dancing Fountains in Canutillo is the closest pick at about 6.4 miles from Anthony. 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 Anthony splash pads open and close for the season?
Most Anthony-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 Anthony open right now?
It depends on the day. Many Anthony-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.