Making Memorial Day weekend plans? Here’s a list of water parks opening in Kansas

Starting this weekend, it’s water park season.

Wichita is home to four outdoor water parks. The Greater Wichita YMCA has three with amenities for varying ages and swim levels.

Splash Aqua Park is Wichita’s only privately owned water park. It features 80 inflatable obstacles on a sandpit lake. Participants must wear a life jacket and sign a waiver.

Drive a little beyond Wichita and you’ll find Rock River Rapids in Derby and Tanganyika Falls Splash Park in Goddard. A little farther still, and you’ll find water parks in Hutchinson, Wellington and McPherson.

Tanganyika’s water park had a gastrointestinal illness outbreak last June that sent several children to the hospital and left dozens more violently ill. It was cleared by health officials to reopen and now says it is up to date with the CDC’s Model Aquatic Health Code guidelines.

Splash Aqua Park, Wichita

860 W. Steeple Bay Parkway

Phone: (316) 351-3551

Website: https://splashict.com/

Open: 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday-Sunday through Labor Day. Closed weekdays

Features: This water park features 80 inflatable obstacle courses.

Things to know: Participants must be 5 or older, wear a life jacket, sign a waiver and be aware of the rules before entering the water.

Cost: Five-hour individual punch pass, $50; two-hour pass, $25; one-hour pass. $15; paddle board rental, $10 per hour

YMCA water parks

Website: https://ymcawichita.org/programs/swimming/water-parks

Open: 1-7 p.m. Monday-Friday; 1-6 p.m. Saturday-Sunday from May 28 through Labor Day

Cost: $10 non-member guest; $25 for a family fee. Admission is free for YMCA members.

Things to know: Water parks may be closed when the temperature is below 80 degrees. Children must be at least 48 inches tall to ride the water slides.

Dennis Schoenebeck North YMCA, 3330 N. Woodlawn Blvd., Wichita

Phone: (316) 858-9622

Features: Wave pool, toddler bay, kids cove, family pool, drop slide, body slide, diving boards, climbing wall and water therapy benches.

Ken Shannon Northwest YMCA, 13838 W. 21st St. N., Wichita

Phone: (316) 260-9622

Features: Lazy river, toddler bay, family pool, tube slide, body slide, spray and splash grounds and a water play structure.

Richard A. DeVore South YMCA, 3405 S. Meridian Ave. Bldg. 100, Wichita

Phone: (316) 942-5511

Features: Lazy river, kiddie play area, family pool, tube slide, plunge slide, diving board, climbing wall and adult only therapy benches.

Rock River Rapids Aquatic Park

1900 E. James St., Derby

Phone: (316) 788-3363

Website: http://www.rockriverrapids.com/617/Rock-River-Rapids

Open: 12:30 p.m.-7 p.m. daily from May 30 through Aug. 16.

Cost: Ages 0-2, free; ages 3-17, $9; ages 18-plus, $10; ages 60-plus, $9

Features: Tube slide, body slides, lap pool, lazy river and a zero-depth pool.

Things to know: You must be 48 inches or taller to ride any slide except for the green slide. The green slide height requirement is 42 inches and requires a separate bracelet for access. Shelters can be rented for parties.

Tanganyika Falls Splash Park

1000 S. Hawkins Lane, Goddard

Phone: (316) 553-4650

Website: https://twpark.com/tanganyika-falls-splash-park/

Open: Noon-4 p.m. daily from May 28 through Labor Day.

Cost: Admission included in cost of Tanganyika Wildlife Park pass: Ages 0-2, free; ages 3-11 $25 Monday-Thursday and $35 Friday-Sunday; ages 12-plus $30 Monday-Thursday and $40 Friday-Sunday

Features: Tube slides, body slides, zoo animal water play structures and in-ground water fountains.

Things to know: Swim wear is not required to access the park. Swimsuits or clothes with rivets, buckles and exposed metal are not allowed on the slides. Families are encouraged to bring their own towels to the park but towels are available for purchase in the gift shop.

McPherson Water Park

511 N Lakeside Drive, McPherson

Phone: (620) 755-2688

Website: https://mcphersonwaterpark.com/

Open: 1-7 p.m. Saturday-Thursday, 1-8 p.m. Friday from May 29 through Aug. 14. Closed at 4:30 p.m. for swim meets June 16, June 28, July 14; open at 4 p.m. after swim meets July 9 and 10

Cost: Ages 0-2, free; ages 3-7, $4; ages 8-61, $5; ages 62-up, $4. Ages 3-up, $35 for 10-visit punch pass. Family swim, $10 per family 5-8 p.m. Friday. Family season pass: $235

Free swim: 7-9 p.m. June 3 and 8-10 p.m. July 27

Features: Children’s splash pad area, zero-entry pool, a bulldog slide, lazy river, water slide and diving well.

Things to know: The air temperature must be 75 degrees by noon for the park to open. Water toys are permitted in the zero depth area of the pool and diving toys and small balls are permitted at management’s discretion. Party shelters may be rented for up to $25 for two hours. After-hour rentals are priced at $225 for one hour minimum.

Salt City Splash Aquatic Center

Carey Park, 1601 S. Plum St., Hutchinson

Phone: (620) 662-7705; off-season (620) 663-6179

Website: https://www.hutchrec.com/salt-city-splash/

Open: 12:30-6:30 p.m. Memorial Day through mid-August.

Cost: Ages 2-under, free with paying adult; ages 3-7, $2 with paying adult; ages 8-17, $4; ages 18-plus, $5.25; ages 62-plus: $4. Season passes: ages 3-7, $30; ages 8-17, $60; ages 18-plus, $70; ages 62-plus, $60

Features: Olympic-sized 50-meter pool, drop slide, low and high diving boards, lap lanes, basketball goals and large floating toys.

Things to know: Children must be 42 inches or taller to use the slides and cannot ride in someone else’s lap. Cash and credit refunds will not be issued. Rain passes may be given if the park closes before 3:30 p.m. because of weather.

Wellington Family Aquatic Center

202 S. Jefferson Wellington

Phone: (620) 326-3323

Website: http://www.wellingtonrec.com/aquatics.html

Open: 1-7 p.m. Monday-Friday, May 29-Aug. 8. 1-5 p.m. Aug. 14-15; 21-22; 28-29 and Sept. 4-5. twilight swim: 5-7 p.m. Monday-Friday.

Cost: Ages 0-2, free; ages 2-up, $3; twilight swim admission: ages 2-up, $2; ages 55-up, $1. Season passes: $50, single; $100 family of two; $150 family of three to eight; $25 babysitter pass

Features: Zero-entry pool, water mushroom, drop slide, tube slide and lap lanes.

Winfield Aquatic Center

300 Main St., Winfield

Phone: (620) 221-5639

Website:https://www.winfieldks.org/departments/parks___public_land/aquatic_center.php

Open: 1:30-7 p.m. daily May through July, except Monday and Wednesday close at 6 p.m. ; 1:30-6 p.m. daily in August

Cost: Ages 0-4, free with paid adult; ages 5-13 and 62-up, $3 or one coupon; ages 14-61, $4 or two coupons. Book of 20 coupons is $35.

Features: Zero entry pool, splash pad, two drop slides and lap lanes.

This story was originally published May 27, 2022 at 4:45 AM.