I’d like to recommend the Ridgewood/Belcher Rec Center strictly because of their spray park. As a mother of three very small children that really aren’t old enough to swim in a regular pool, the whole concept of a spray park makes a lot of sense to me right now. I wish there were more spray parks like this one! The other city spray parks I’ve seen have been in the actual pool–which doesn’t help me out a whole lot! There are many other perks to this spray park, even if you don’t have a lot of small children. Since it’s not an actual pool, you don’t ever have to worry about pool maintenance and getting sick from dirty water. Also, we all know how hot it gets here and that as the summer goes on, the pools end up feeling more like a warm bath than anything cool and refreshing. No more swimming in hot water. New for this year is an improved surface –it’s the nice soft rubber padding made from the same rubber on the bottom of tennis shoes (maybe the same stuff on tennis courts?) and it’s not slippery. The spray park at Ridgewood has a very basic playground right next to it and a large covered patio with plenty of picnic tables and plenty of grassy/shady area to spread a blanket. My niece’s birthday party was there last year and it was great. Inside the rec center are drinking fountains, bathrooms, and friendly people (only available when the rec center is open). Also, if you’re the first one to the park, you can turn it on yourself and don’t have to wait for an employee to turn it on for you. Every visit there has been a pleasant experience for us. I think the spray park is open from about mid-May to mid-September (the sign at the park has the exact dates and they might be online too).

//Eva
29 May 2009 at 3:21 pm

How to get there:
6818 Fisher Rd
Dallas, TX‎