Sherman runs one free spray ground (Hawn) and one paid family aquatic center (The Splash at Fairview Park). Denison adds two free pads (Texoma Health Foundation Park and Forest Park), and Anna and Whitewright each have their own. Five free + one paid within a 20-minute drive.
Top-Rated Splash Pads Near Sherman
1. The Splash Family Aquatic Center (Sherman)
Location: 1121 W Taylor St, Sherman, TX 75092
Sherman👶 Best for ages 2+💲 $🚗 1.6 mi
Nearby splash pad, simple entry: Two two-story water slides, a drop slide, a diving board, a 1,200-foot current channel, and a tot zone with a slide and spray features.
Parent tip: Mon-Thu 12-6pm, Fri 12-8pm, Sat 11am-6pm, Sun 1-6pm. Open May 27 through Labor Day. Private rentals Fri-Sun 6:30-8:30pm.
Want to check if the fountains are running today? See live maintenance updates on the official The Splash Family Aquatic Center portal.
2. Hawn Spray Ground (Sherman)
Location: 900 S Dewey St, Sherman, TX 75090
Sherman👶 Best for all ages💲 Free🚗 1.1 mi
Nearby splash pad, simple entry: Free play area with tumble buckets, geysers, and spray features.
Parent tip: Open 9am-8pm seasonally. Free is the standout — most splash pads in the area charge or require driving 20+ minutes.
3. Forest Park Splash Pad (Denison)
Heading out of Sherman, budget about 12 min on the road, short enough for a spur-of-the-moment weekday trip.
Location: 300 W Crawford St, Denison, TX 75020
Nearby splash pad, simple entry: 6-acre park with a splash pad, playground, paved walking path, picnic tables, restrooms, and wheelchair-accessible features. Smaller than the Texoma Health Foundation Park pad but in a calmer neighborhood setting.
Parent tip: Open 10am-8pm, May 1 through September 30.
For weather closures, seasonal restrictions, or maintenance schedules, view the Forest Park city page.
4. Texoma Health Foundation Park Splash Pad (Denison)
Leaving Sherman, you're looking at about 20 min without traffic, close enough that the kids won't gripe about the car ride.
Location: 5800 N Hwy 91, Denison, TX 75020
Wheelchair-accessible water play in Denison: 66-acre park with a splash pad, ADA playgrounds, multi-use athletic fields, sand volleyball, paved trails, LED lighting, and concessions. There's a playground nearby for siblings who want dry time.
Parent tip: Open 10am-8pm, May 1 through September 30. LED lighting means the park is usable in the evening.
5. Slayter Creek Splash Pad (Anna)
A genuine about 28 min drive each way from Sherman, worth it if the kids need serious space to roam.
Location: 425 W Rosamond Pkwy, Anna, TX 75409
Freshly cleaned every Tuesday: Anna's free splash pad shuts down Mondays for maintenance, which means it reopens Tuesday spotless , a guarantee every reopening is fresh. The growing suburb keeps the park maintained well; playground and open space are right there.
Parent tip: Open Tue-Sun 9am-8pm, closed Mondays for maintenance. Season runs late May through September. Swim diapers required for diaper-age kids.
Closures are rare, but you can confirm real-time operations on the Slayter Creek facilities status page before packing up the car.
6. Frog Park Splash Pad (Whitewright)
Heading out of Sherman, budget about 22 min on the road, short enough for a spur-of-the-moment weekday trip.
Location: 100 Block West Oak St, Whitewright, TX 75491
Budget-friendly splash area in Whitewright: Closed-gate splash pad with an adjacent playground, skate park, basketball, tennis courts, and a large gazebo. There's a playground to add to your visit.
Parent tip: Pad opens seasonally. The closed gate is the standout feature for parents with toddlers who wander.
Before heading out, review the Frog Park status dashboard for seasonal maintenance updates.
How we picked these
Every pick is free or modestly paid, public, and has at least one full operating season. We weighed feature mix, restroom access, shade, and what Sherman-Denison-area parents on Google and local threads consistently flag. No paid placements.Planning your visit
Most pads run May 1 through September 30, 8am-8pm or 10am-8pm. Hawn Spray Ground operates when temperatures hit 80°F+. Pack water shoes, towels, and dry clothes. Swim diapers required for pre-potty-trained kids.For more kids' events near Sherman this week, see the Sherman events page.
Sherman 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: The Splash Family Aquatic Center and most Sherman 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 Hawn Spray Ground, standard filtration doesn't remove all pathogens instantly.
Sherman Splash Pads, Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best splash pads for kids near Sherman, TX?
Our 2026 guide picks 6 standout splash pads within about 20 miles of Sherman. The top picks include The Splash Family Aquatic Center, Hawn Spray Ground and Forest Park Splash Pad (Denison), each chosen for kid-friendly layout, parent reviews, and how well it holds up on a weekend visit.
Which splash pads near Sherman are free?
5 of the 6 splash pads in this guide are free to visit, including Hawn Spray Ground, Forest Park Splash Pad (Denison) and Texoma Health Foundation Park Splash Pad (Denison). The rest charge admission. Check the individual cards above for prices.
What is the closest splash pad to Sherman?
Hawn Spray Ground is the closest pick at about 1.1 miles from Sherman. 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 Sherman splash pads open and close for the season?
Most Sherman-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 Sherman open right now?
It depends on the day. Many Sherman-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.