Aside from the usual sprinkler in the backyard trick, what other ways are there to cool off with your toddlers and little ones around the city? Well, for starters, there are indoor pool options, spray grounds, splash parks, tons of outdoor swimming options, and various water parks in the area that are filled to the brim with splash time.
Indoor pools:
All About Kids has open gym and swim times on Monday-Friday from 2pm-4pm, Saturdays from 7pm-9pm, and Sundays from 2pm-4pm. That’s a great variety of times for toddlers and families with younger children.
Jewish Community Center has an excellent indoor pool and in addition to swim lessons, they offer family swim times and open swim times as well for members. They also house a baby pool, perfect for toddlers.
Mary T Meagher is run out of the Louisville Metro Government and is the best option for a public indoor pool in the city. They have the most flexible offerings as far as open swim times and the most affordable rates for a day pass and such.
SIGS Sportsplex offers occasional open swim and bounce times. This Saturday, June 28 they are offering a kid’s night out from 6pm-10pm complete with all the bouncing, tumbling, and indoor swimming they want, and also includes pizza. It’s for ages 6-12 and is $25 for non-members. Call 812-949-7447.
YMCA of Louisville, Oldham County, Southern Indiana – When you join the Y or as a member currently, you and your toddlers and entire family can have family swim time together all the time. It’s just about the most affordable option for a gym membership and it comes with so many perks and rewards. I’ve heard the pool at the YMCA at Norton Commons is second to none.
Outdoor pools:
Douglass Hills Pool – You can join for a summer membership or enter at a day pass price for $7.
Here is the information from the E.P. Tom Sawyer Park public pool website:
[Public Swim Schedule and Pricing
CLOSED MONDAY
Tuesday-Friday & Sunday - 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Saturday - 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Children 2 years and under: FREE (wading pool closed for season; small rafts for children 2 and under are welcome)
Children 3 to 12 years: $4.00 (must be accompanied by a responsible adult age 18 or older)
Adults 13 and older: $5.00]
Louisville Metro Parks public summer pools and spraygrounds are open now through August 3. Read more about the 30 park spraygrounds and 4 outdoor swimming pools available to the public here.
Plainview Swim Club – Much like the Douglass Hills pool, they have summer membership prices at all levels and also have a day pass price of $8 for anyone over age 20 and $6 for those under age 20. They have a great baby/toddler pool that is 1 foot deep.
See this link for a great list of sprayground and splash park/pad options with reviews.
Water Park options:
Atlantis Water Park in Clarksville, Indiana
Holiday World and Splashin’ Safari in Santa Claus, Indiana is the go-to for many families in the Louisville area. (Read about the comparison of it to Kentucky Kingdom here.)
Kentucky Kingdom and Hurricane Bay in Louisville, which re-opened its gates in May. (Read about the amusement park here.)
Check out this list of swimming lessons for littles. You can get your little one started on learning how to swim and possibly check out these sites for extra swim time as well.
Photos by Erin Nevitt; cover photo courtesy of shutterstock/YanLev
