Baltimore splash pads, fountains and pools to cool off for free (or almost free)

Walter Sondheim Fountain

Summers in the Baltimore area can be brutally hot and humid.  There’s no better way to escape the heat and still enjoy the outdoors than enjoying the cool waters of a splash fountain, wading pool or swimming pool.

Here’s a list of the Baltimore splash pads, fountains, wading pools and swimming pools that are free or almost free.  Most are part of the Baltimore City Recreation and Parks’ aquatics program.  If you know of others, please let us know. We’ll add more as we discover them.

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Baltimore splash pads and fountains

Walter Sondheim Fountain — West Shore Park, 401 Light Street.  This big splash pad is part of the “great lawn” of West Shore Park located between the Baltimore Visitor Center and Maryland Science Center.  The fountain is on Monday – Friday from 10am to 10pm and Saturdays and Sundays from 11am to 10pm.  Free.

North Harford Splash Pad — North Harford Park, 6800 Hamlet Drive.  This splash pad has a three-ring sprayer, plus a whale’s tail spout.  Open every day through Labor Day.  The hours are Monday – Saturday from 12pm to 5pm and Sundays and holidays from 1pm to 4pm.  Free.

Photo from Baltimore RecNParks

Solo Gibbs Splash Pad – Solo Gibbs Park, 1044 Leadenhall Street.  Located in the historic Sharp-Leadenhall community, the park also features a playground, two tennis courts, two basketball courts, a baseball field and a recreation center.  Open every day through Labor Day, the hours are Monday – Saturday from 12pm to 5pm and Sundays and holidays from 1pm to 4pm.  Free.

Wading pools

These wading pools run by Baltimore City Recreation and Parks are open through Labor Day.  Hours are Monday – Saturday from 12pm to 7pm and Sundays and holidays from 1pm to 6pm.  $2 per 2-hour session and free for ages 3 and under.

Cherry Hill – 101 Reedbird Avenue

Clifton Park — 2013 Sinclair Lane

Patterson Park — 148 S. Linwood Avenue

Riverside Park — 1800 Covington Avenue

Roosevelt Park — 3500 Poole Street

William McAbee — 1323 N. Gilmore Street

Park Pools

There are 6 outdoor public pools in parks across the city.  All are staffed with lifeguards and some offer water aerobics classes and swimming lessons.  Open through Labor Day, hours are Monday – Saturday from 12pm to 7pm and Sundays and holidays from 1pm to 6pm.  $2 per 2-hour session and free for ages 3 and under.

Patterson — 148 S. Linwood Avenue

Druid Hill  — 800 Wyman Park Drive

Cherry Hill Splash — 101 Reedbird Avenue  

Roosevelt  — 3500 Poole Street

Clifton — 2013 Sinclair Lane

Riverside — 1800 Covington Avenue

Neighborhood Pools

Baltimore City Recreation and Parks also runs 12 smaller pools in neighborhoods across the city.  Open through Labor Day, hours are Monday – Saturday from 12pm to 5pm and Sundays and holidays from 1pm to 4pm.  $1 per 2-hour session.

Ambrose Kennedy  — 1000 Ensor Street

C.C. Jackson  — 4910 Park Heights Avenue

Central Rosemont  — 2621 Winchester Street

City Springs  — 1500 E. Baltimore Street

Coldstream — 1400 Fillmore Street

Farring Baybrook — 4501 Farring Court

Greater Model — 1055 W. Saratoga Street

Liberty  — 3901 Maine Avenue

O’Donnell Heights — 1200 Gusryan Street

Towanda — 4100 Towanda Avenue

Walter P. Carter  — 820 E. 43rd Street

William McAbee  — 1323 N. Gilmore Street

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• $1 Kid Flicks This Summer at Regal Cinemas