Best Playground Water Features in the South Bay

Enjoying the spray at John D. Morgan

Best Water Features

We live in California, and sometimes California gets hot. While sprinklers are nice and a big pitcher of water will do in a pinch, there are days when nothing will satisfy an overheated toddler but a big playground water feature.

The following parks have one or both of the following: (i) a "major" spray feature, with water coming up from the ground and/or down from overhead sprayers, or (ii) a "waterfall" feature, where water comes out of a spigot and courses down a concrete path into a sandy bog below. The former get kids more wet, the latter more dirty. Toddlers love both.

Important note: Many water features are shut down or have limited hours in the "off season", and, with the drought, many cities' water features have been turned off altogether this year. If a water feature is an important consideration for you in choosing a park, please call the city's Parks and Recreation department before your visit (or check their website) to make sure that the feature is operating. As of right now, I know that all of San Jose's and Campbell's features are turned off.

Here are our favorite features:

1. Ortega Park (Sunnyvale) (Coolest design for a "major" feature, with a huge flower showering kids from above while additional spray comes up from below. Very big and very fun.)
2. Seven Seas Park (Sunnyvale) (Fun, wide-open design with water coming from ground and poles.)
3. Serra Park (Sunnyvale) (Lots of light sprays coming from strange cement structures -- an interesting and unique set up that kids really love.)
4. Lincoln Glen Park (SJ -- Willow Glen) (The best for sheer volume -- kids get truly drenched by the overhead shower, while water sprays up from below around the perimeter.)
5. John D. Morgan Park (Campbell) (The most options -- a major water feature with a spiral effect and water shooting from the ground, plus a waterfall and a second random spigot in the sand area.)
6. Jack Fischer Park (Campbell) (A small spiral feature, plus the best secondary feature -- a waterfall that leads to a delightful muddy bog.)
7. Fowler Creek Park (SJ -- Evergreen) (A nice wide-open feature, with spray coming up from below and nice benches around the perimeter for parents.)
8. Parma Park (SJ -- Almaden) (A nice, wide-open spray up from the ground feature. The park has the only fenced-in water feature I've found -- a waterfall in the toddler area -- but it wasn't working last time we were there. It would rank a lot higher if it did.)
9. Almaden Lake Park (SJ -- Almaden) (A large feature, with overhead and underfoot sprayers.)
10. Central Park (Santa Clara) (A different type of offering -- more a water table than anything, but with a bunch of special spouts, drains and pools -- this feature fills with a mucky mixture of sand and water that toddlers love.)
    
    There is also a major water feature at Mitchell Park in Palo Alto, but I've never been when it was operational, so I haven't had the chance to see it in action.
    
    Please note that Las Palmas Park's feature, though awesome, is only turned on if you call and pay a hefty sum in advance.

Happy splashing!

Please note that these reviews are based on my observations or experiences on the day(s) I visited the park in question, with my own particular toddler. Park conditions can change, the clientele may vary day to day, and things that are safe and fun for one child may not be for another. I do not vouch for the safety or security of any of the parks or playgrounds listed here, and I recommend that you use your own best judgment when determining whether to visit or stay at a park, and whether that park is appropriate for your toddler.

Best Playground Water Features in the South Bay 2014-09-12T15:55:00-07:00 Rating: 4.5 Diposkan Oleh: Unknown