Heat beaters

When summer scorches Charlottesville, the city’s spray grounds provide an excellent antidote to record highs. Located in four public parks, these structures gush, dump, and drizzle H2O to keep kids and their parents cool. Admission is free, everyone’s welcome, and the parks are open every day from 10am to 7pm, from May 16 through September 20.

Unlike pools, spray grounds pose no drowning hazards, making them safer for tiny toddlers and not-quite-strong swimmers. Worried about water waste in drought conditions? The city says each park collects, cleans, and reuses its water for maximum efficiency. Just remember to bring a good sunscreen, since there’s little to no shade around the water features themselves.

Where to find spray grounds:

Belmont Park
725 Stonehenge Ave.

Forest Hills Park
1022 Forest Hills Ave.

Greenleaf Park
1598 Rose Hill Dr.

Benjamin Tonsler Park
500 Cherry Ave.

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