East Texas summers are no joke, and Longview's parks department knows it — the city runs five free splash pads from April all the way through October, well beyond most Texas cities' Labor Day cutoff. Whether you've got a toddler who wants to stand in a single sprayer for forty-five minutes or a crew of kids who need 10,000 square feet of water chaos, Longview's got you covered. Better yet, every single one is free.
Top-Rated Splash Pads Near Longview
1. Jack Mann Splash Pad at Lear Park (Longview)
Location: 100 H.G. Mosley Parkway, Longview, TX 75604
Longview👶 Best for all ages💲 Free🚗 1.16 mi
The water-play goldmine for toddlers in Longview: Little swimmers just figuring out water love Jack Mann Splash Pad at Lear Park because there's no deep end to fear and every spray is at their level. The surrounding park keeps parents sane with shade, restrooms, and usually a snack area within shouting distance. Come early morning when it's calmest and you'll wonder why you ever tried the crowded midday time slots.
Good to know: splash pad, playground, restrooms, pavilions, picnic tables, water features, three themed play areas. Closed Wednesdays.
Parent tip: Jack Mann closes every Wednesday for maintenance. Check before driving over — Tuesday or Thursday mornings are your sweet spot for shorter lines and a cooler pad surface.
Want to check if the fountains are running today? See live maintenance updates on the official Jack Mann at Lear Park portal.
2. Stamper Park Splash Pad (Longview)
Location: 400 Fair Street, Longview, TX 75601
Longview👶 Best for all ages💲 Free🚗 3.02 mi
No excuses splash destination in Longview: Stamper Park Splash Pad handles the logistics that matter — restrooms that don't require a hike, parking that doesn't suck, and hours that work for actual families trying to escape the heat on a random Tuesday afternoon. The whole setup gets out of your way so kids can actually play.
Good to know: splash pad, playground, pavilion, restrooms, baseball field, softball field, horseshoe pits, multi-use courts, picnic area.
Parent tip: Great choice if you have mixed-age kids — the baseball and softball fields often have pickup games going on weekends, making this a full park day without leaving the property.
3. Spring Hill Park Splash Pad (Longview)
Location: 738 Fenton Road, Longview, TX 75604
Longview👶 Best for all ages💲 Free🚗 3.24 mi
The walk-from-home splash option in Longview: Spring Hill Park Splash Pad is close enough that you can hit it without the "where are the car keys" logistics — making it the emergency cool-down play when the temperature spikes and you need something *right now*. Good enough to repeat, good enough to know the regulars.
Good to know: splash pad, playground, pavilion, restrooms, baseball field, accessible playground, universally accessible features, walking trail.
Parent tip: Call the city parks line at 903-237-1270 to confirm the renovation timeline before visiting — the 2026 upgrades may have shifted the splash pad's opening date.
4. Rotary Park Splash Pad (Longview)
Location: 500 Baylor Drive, Longview, TX 75606
Longview👶 Best for all ages💲 Free🚗 1.86 mi
East Longview's neighborhood pad with the best shade setup: Rotary Park's one-acre splash area is smaller than Jack Mann but punches above its weight with a shade canopy over the pad itself — rare in Longview's splash pad lineup. The Rotary Club-donated accessible playground (2014) includes a wheelchair swing, making this the right call for families with kids who need adaptive equipment.
Good to know: splash pad, playground, pavilion, picnic area, restrooms, shade canopy, wheelchair swing, accessible sidewalks.
Parent tip: The shade canopy makes this the best midday splash pad in Longview — you can run the kids at 1pm without everyone melting. Restrooms are on site.
5. Kilgore City Park Pool (Kilgore)
For Longview families, plan about 21 min each way — Kilgore is easy to navigate once you're there.
Location: 1000 Stone Road, Kilgore, TX 75662
The Longview overflow plan: Kilgore City Park Pool is the right call when every pad in Longview has a line — 14 miles south on US-259, uncrowded, and worth combining with a quick Kilgore city stop. Good enough to make the short drive whenever the Longview options look full.
Good to know: public pool, splash area, playground, shade trees, picnic tables, restrooms.
Parent tip: Call Kilgore Parks & Recreation ahead to confirm the pool's summer schedule — hours can shift between school-year and summer. The drive on US-259 is quick and uncrowded.
For weather closures, seasonal restrictions, or maintenance schedules, view the Kilgore City Park Pool city page.
How we picked these
We evaluated Longview's five city splash pads by distance from the city center, size and variety of water features, amenities like restrooms and shade, and accessibility features. Jack Mann is the flagship and worth going to first; the others each have a specific strength worth knowing. All confirmed splash pads in this part of East Texas are city-operated Longview facilities — surrounding communities in this area rely on pools rather than splash pads.Planning your visit
All Longview splash pads run 9am to sundown, April through October. Jack Mann is closed Wednesdays for maintenance — plan around that. The extended season means you can still find relief in September and October when most Texas splash pads have closed. Weekday mornings are least crowded; weekend afternoons at Jack Mann can get very busy.For more kids' events near Longview this week, see the Longview events page.
Longview 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 — Jack Mann Splash Pad at Lear Park and most Longview 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 Stamper Park Splash Pad — standard filtration doesn't remove all pathogens instantly.
Longview Splash Pads — Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best splash pads for kids near Longview, TX?
Our 2026 guide picks 5 standout splash pads within about 15 miles of Longview. The top picks include Jack Mann Splash Pad at Lear Park, Stamper Park Splash Pad and Spring Hill Park Splash Pad — each chosen for kid-friendly layout, parent reviews, and how well it holds up on a weekend visit.
Which splash pads near Longview are free?
4 of the 5 splash pads in this guide are free to visit, including Jack Mann Splash Pad at Lear Park, Stamper Park Splash Pad and Spring Hill Park Splash Pad. The rest charge admission — check the individual cards above for prices.
What is the closest splash pad to Longview?
Jack Mann Splash Pad at Lear Park is the closest pick at about 1.16 miles from Longview. 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 Longview splash pads open and close for the season?
Most Longview-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 Longview open right now?
It depends on the day. Many Longview-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.