Chicagoland Water Fun
With Illinois now in Phase 4 and temperatures on the rise, I think we are all curious about
what our water fun prospects are this summer. This guide contains an
updated list of resources to various type of family – friendly water fun!
Please note that although certain cities / towns have made the decision to
open their facilities to the public, please abide by social distancing and mask wearing guidelines.
As well as handwashing! We all want to safely enjoy our summer!
Splash Pads
*Chicago Park District: “More than 100 Spray Features are now open throughout the city, most from 9 am- 9 pm daily. This includes a few water playgrounds.” Click here for the link of open water spray features in Chicago.
31st Street Harbor: Closed
Adams Playground Park (Chicago): Closed
Aurora (Fox Valley Park District) Splash Pads are open!
- Eola Community Center
- Stuart Sports Complex
- Martin Luther King
- Blackhawk Park
Bensenville Water Park : Closed for 2020 season
- No more than 30 people will be allowed in the spray ground at a time.
- Fee is $6R/$8NR (Kids under 2 are free). Reservations must be made for each person, ages 2 and over, who will be at the spray ground.
- After the two hour time slot, participants will be asked to leave so staff can disinfect the lounge chairs, features and touchpoints
- Masks are to be worn when not actively engaged in water play
Bisons Bluff – Schaumburg: Playground open for reservation holding residents only, stream and water feature are closed
- The Spray ‘N Play will open on July 8. Due to the phase 4 limits on how many people can be inside the facility at one time, reservations are highly recommended. To make a reservation, please send an email to snp@bgparks.org.
Des Plaines Dee Park Splash Pad:
- Open 12 – 7 weekdays & 12 -5 on weekends
- No reservations needed but capacity is capped at 50 occupants.
Dunbar Park: Closed
Dragonfly Landing – Lisle: Closed
Festival Park & Eastside Recreation Center (Elgin): Currently closed.
Fountain Square Park – Elk Grove:
- Sprayground now open through Labor Day
- Mon – Fri: 12:30 pm – 7:00 pm
- Sat – Sun: 10:30 am – 7:00 pm
Glenview Splash Pad at Little Bear Garden: Closed for 2020
Lake Zurich Spray ground Paulus Park Beach: Spray ground and beach open to Lake Zurich residents
- Open for timed, date specific entry. Walk ups are allowed but subject to availability.
- “Reservations are available in 1.5-hour time blocks from 9am to 6:30pm Monday-Saturday and 11am to 6:30pm Sunday and may be made up to 7 days in advance. Reservations are required for EVERY individual entering the gate and utilizing space. Face covering must be worn when checking in and when social distancing is not possible. Hours subject to change without notice.”
- Open daily from 11 am – 7 pm
Millenium Park Crown Fountain: Currently closed
Moore Park Spray Ground – Geneva:
- 50 person capacity, social distancing and mask recommendations must be followed
- Free for residents, $4 for non.
- Register in advance
- Monday-Thursday, 90 minute “Open Swim” sessions will begin every 2 hours, beginning at Noon. Each session will be limited to 25 people and require advance registration. For all “Open Swim” sessions, including opportunities for our indoor Leisure Pool, we are utilizing the UPace app. Instructions on how to download and use the app can be found here: https://www.obparks.org/reserve
- Check in at the back door for a wristband to provide access to Splash Island.
- Residents may reserve a time slot and prepay up to 3 days in advance. Nonresidents may reserve a time slot and prepay up to 2 days in advance. Limit of 2 visits per week. Ages 15 & under must be accompanied by a paying adult.
Park Ridge Splash Pad at Prospect Park:
- Reservations required through website. Residents have priority over non, with non-residents only receiving a drop in spot if space is available.
Portage Park Water Playground: Currently closed
Prairie Point Splash Pad (Oswego):
- 50 patron max capacity
- Practice social distancing
Roselle – Turner Park Water Splash Pad:
- The Splash Pad will be open daily, 10:00am-6:00pm
- To activate the water feature, place your hand on the sensor on the blue pole (it is a sensor that needs to be covered, not a button that needs to be pushed).
Rosemont Splash Pad: Open to Rosemont residents only
- “Take a leisurely dip in our 14,000 square foot main pool with beach entry, play in our fully accessible splash pad, take a ride down one of our three big slides or take the challenge and stand beneath the big red bucket and get drenched when 300 gallons of water come crashing down!”
- Pre-registration tickets are required to enter the facility for Skokie residents only and residents may purchase tickets up to 5 days in advance.
- Non-residents may purchase any remaining session tickets on the day of the visit.
Stingray Bay (Huntley): Closed
- 50 guests at a time
- 2 hr visit limit
- Mask to be worn when entering, exiting, and when not under the sprayers
Water Parks
Barefoot Bay Aquatic Center (Mundelein): Closed
Centennial Park Aquatic Center (Orland Park):
- Admission is by reservation only.
- Admission is limited to three sessions per day: Orland Park Residents: 12-2 pm, 3-5 pm, and 6-8 pm. Non-resident: 6-8 pm
- Registration is available at Sportsplex, Village Hall Cashier’s Office, CPAC, and online at www.tinyurl.com/CPAC-Open Swim.
- Waterpark access is only for guests with a hotel reservation at this time. Day passes currently are not being sold.
Mystic Waters in Des Plaines: Closed for the 2020 season
Otter Cove Aquatic Park: (St. Charles) :
- Main attractions closed, splash park open
- Residents may reserve a time slot and prepay up to 3 days in advance
- Non-residents may reserve a time slot and prepay up to 2 days in advance
- Now open daily, no reservations needed
- Opening Day, July 11th
- Park opens Monday, July 20th for members and July 22nd for everyone else.
- Reservations required
The Water Works (Schaumburg): Only open for member only lap swim by reservation
White Water Canyon Water Park (Tinley Park): Closed for the season
Beaches / Rec. Lakes
Centennial Beach (Naperville): Closed
- 4 of Evanston’s beaches are open for public swimming
- A daily pass or season token must be presented for admission
- Daily passes, good for entrance to any of our open swimming beaches, can only be purchased at the Dempster St. Beach Office or the Clark St. Beach Office
Gillson Park & Willmette Beaches: Open to season pass holders only.
Glencoe Beach: Currently only open to Season Pass holders. No daily passes available at this time
- Younger kids will enjoy the smooth sandy beach and shallow area of the lake, while the older kids enjoy large water toys that will keep them entertained all day long!
- Purchase a daily pass or book a camping spot for the night / weekend!
Illinois Beach State Park (Zion)
- “Illinois Beach State Park is located along the shores of Lake Michigan from Waukegan to the Wisconsin state line. The park offers a campground, full service resort, camp store, picnic areas, hiking and biking trails and a visitors center open intermittently throughout the year. There is swimming along the six miles of beaches.“
Lake Zurich: Paulus Park and Breezewald Park Beach
- Open to Lake Zurich residents only
- “Enjoy Diamond Lake Beach, a quaint, summertime favorite, with soft sand, expansive shoreline, great swimming (complete with a floating SportsPark), kids’ playground/climber on the sand, shaded picnic areas and more. Paddle boats, kayaks and stand-up paddle boards are available for rent for an enjoyable excursion on the water.”
- Create an account with Mundelein Park District and register in advance
- “Celebrated around the world for its beautiful sweep of shoreline and backdrop of rolling dunes, this is the main beach in town and the most happening place to soak in the sun.”
- The daily vehicle entrance fee is $10 (8am – 9pm)
- A short 2.5 hr drive from Chicago!
Riviera Beach (Lake Geneva, WI)
- Daily admission to the beach can be purchased at any of the four pay stations located near the beach entrance during regular beach hours.
- Fontana Beach & Williams Bay Beach are open to residents only
- Free for residents
- Nonresidents must purchase a season beach pass to enter
Silver Lake Beach (Kenosha, WI)
- Limited occupancy
- 25$ per car for non-residents
Three Oaks Recreation Area (Crystal Lake)
- Limited occupancy, first come, first serve basis
Washington Park Beach (Michigan City, IN)
- “This 140-acre park has 2 miles of pristine beach, the Washington Park Zoo, the Michigan City Senior Center, a restaurant, concessions, the Oasis Splash Park, public art, amphitheater, a marina, public fishing, and more!
