When the temperatures reach triple digits consistently, the best way to find some relief is to hit the water. Here are some places where you can cool off.
COMMUNITY AQUATIC CENTERS
Cities open their pools in the summer for lessons and public swim time. These centers offer a variety of activities for visitors in the way of water slides, diving areas, toddler areas and more.
Aquaplex
1702 N 4th St., Flagstaff
928-213-2300 • flagstaffaquaplex.org
Features a lazy river with vortex, two body slides, kids splash area with zero-depth entry and lap pool. Open 6 am-9 pm Mon-Sat, 10 am-6 pm Sun. $9.50 adults, $6.50 ages 12-17/seniors, $4 ages 5-11; monthly passes, group and household rates available.
City of Mesa
Brimhall Aquatic Complex, 4949 E Southern Ave, Mesa, 480-644-5087
Carson Aquatic Complex, 525 N Westwood, Mesa, 480-644-2374
Fremont Aquatic Complex, 1101 N Power Road, Mesa, 480-644-2369
Kino Aquatic Center, 848 N Horne, Mesa,
480-644-2376
Mesa Aquatic Complex, 1630 E Southern Ave., Mesa, 480-644-3036
Rhodes Aquatic Complex and FlowRider, 1860 S Longmore, Mesa, 480-644-2550
Shepherd Aquatic Complex, 1407 N Alta Mesa Dr., Mesa, 480-644-3037
WATERPARKS
Nothing beats spending the day at the waterpark in the hot summer months. If you purchase a season pass, after your first few visits you’re playing for free!
Big Surf Waterpark
1500 N McClintock Dr., Tempe
480-994-2297 • bigsurffun.com
Open daily through July 31 (weekends until Sept 11 and Labor Day). Features America’s first wave pool, slides, thrill rides, zip line, Captain Cook’s Landing for the toddlers and more. Park open 10 am-6 pm Mon-Sat, 11 am-6 pm Sun; On Sunset Fridays park remains open until 9 pm. General admission $29.95, season passes and surfing memberships available.
Breakers Water Park
8555 W Tangerine Road, Marana
520-682-2530 • breakerswaterpark.com
Open Tues-Sun May 28-Aug 7, Mon May 30 and July 4 (weekends through Sept 4 and Labor Day). Features a wave pool, slides, thrill rides and Captain Kidd’s Surfari. Open 10 am-6 pm. Admission $19.99-$26.99. Season passes available.
Mesa Golfland Sunsplash
155 W Hampton Ave., Mesa
480-834-8319 • golfland.com/mesa
Open daily through Aug 7 (weekends until Sept 17 and Labor Day). Features a wave pool, slides, thrill rides, lazy river and more. Also an arcade center, miniature golf, laser tag, race cars and bumper boats. Sunsplash is open 11 am-7 pm Sun-Tues, 11 am-10 pm Wed-Sat; Night Splash features reduced admission (Fri-Sat nights from 7-10 pm). Daily admission rates $21.99 and up for the waterpark; prices vary for other activities. Season passes available.
Waylon’s Water World
4446 E County 10th St., Yuma
928-726-6000 • zfunfactory.com/waylons
Open 2 pm until 30 minutes before dusk Thurs-Fri, 10 am until 30 minutes before dusk Sat-Sun.
Features slides, lazy river, mat racer, toddler area and more. Also has Z Fun Factory with miniature golf, arcade, go carts, tree climbing and batting cages. Admission $22 and up for water park; discount for half-day passes. Season passes available.
Skyline Aquatic Center, 845 S Crimson Road, Mesa, 480-644-6040
Stapley Aquatic Complex, 3250 E Hermosa Vista, Mesa, 480-644-4977
mesaaz.gov
Amenities include 1- and 3-meter diving boards, splash pads, water slides, tumble buckets, shade structures, lazy river and zero-depth entry. Rhodes Aquatic Complex has the FlowRider, a surfing simulator. Season runs May 28-July 24. $4 ages 18 and up, $2 ages 17 and under.
City of Scottsdale
Chaparral Aquatic Center, 5401 N Hayden Road, Scottsdale, 480-312-2361
Eldorado Aquatic & Fitness Center, 2301 N Miller Road, Scottsdale, 480-312-2484
McDowell Mountain Ranch Park, 15525 N Thompson Peak Pkwy., Scottsdale, 480-312-6677
scottsdaleaz.gov/sports/aquatics
Features 1- and 3-meter diving boards, water slides, zero-depth entry, water playground and more. Hours vary. Summer family pass available.
Kiwanis Wave Pool
6111 S All America Way, Tempe
480-350-5201 • tempe.gov/kiwanis
Indoor wave pool with water slide, raft and tube rentals, concessions and theme days. Open daily May 26-July 24 (weekends until Sept 4 and Labor Day). Hours vary. $7 for ages 13 and older, $5 for ages 12 and younger. Season passes available.
Foothills Recreation & Aquatics Center
5600 W Union Hills Dr., Glendale
623-930-4600 • glendaleaz.com/foothillscenter
Amenities include two giant slides, a kiddie slide, zero-depth entry leisure pool with spray features, lazy river, diving well with two diving boards and six lap lanes. Open daily June 4-Aug 6. Hours vary. $6 ages 18-54, $3.50 ages 3-17, $5 ages 55 and older, ages 2 and under free; discounts for Glendale residents.
Oro Valley Aquatic Center
23 W Calle Concordia, Oro Valley
520-297-SWIM (7946) • orovalleyaz.gov/aquatics
Features a 25-yard recreational pool, water slide,
shaded bleachers and splash pad. Hours vary.
$7 adults, $6 seniors, $5 ages 4-17, ages 3 and under free; discount for Oro Valley residents.
Rose Lane Aquatics Center
5003 W Marlette Ave., Glendale
623-930-7905 • glendaleaz.com/parksandrecreation
Includes a large, zero-depth entry leisure pool with spray features, splash pad, giant slide, kiddie slide, and big pool with diving well and diving board. Open 1-5 pm Tues-Fri, 1-6 pm Sat-Sun, closed on Mondays. $6 ages 18-54, $3.50 ages 3-17, $5 ages 55 and older, ages 2 and under free; discounts for Glendale residents. Happy hour swimming includes $1 off admission between 3:30-5 pm Tues-Thurs.
Surprise Aquatic Center
15831 N Bullard Ave., Surprise
623-222-2500 • surpriseaz.gov
Includes zero-depth entry, water play features, water slides, vortex whirlpool, diving boards and more. Open daily May 28-Aug 6 (weekends through Sept 25 and Labor Day). Noon-6 pm Mon-Thurs, noon-4 pm Fri, noon-5 pm Sat-Sun. $5 non-residents, $2 adult residents, $1 residents ages 6 months-17 years.
SPLASH PADS
Many city parks have added splash pads to their playground areas. These places offer a cool alternative to summer fun and are open throughout the warm months. The added bonus is that they are usually free. Check on one of the websites below to find a park with a splash pad near you and its hours of operation:
Chandler: chandleraz.gov
Gilbert: gilbertaz.gov/departments/parks-and-recreation
Glendale: glendaleaz.com/parksandrecreation
Marana: maranaaz.gov/recreation
Mesa: mesaaz.gov/things-to-do
Peoria: visitpeoriaaz.com
Phoenix: phoenix.gov/parks
Prescott: pvaz.net
Scottsdale: scottsdaleaz.gov/parks
Tempe: tempe.gov
Tucson: tucsonaz.gov/parks/pools-and-splash-pads
Yuma: yumaaz.gov
Tucson Jewish Community Center
3800 E River Road, Tucson
520-299-3000 • tucsonjcc.org
Open 8 am-8 pm Mon-Thurs, 8 am-5:30 pm Fri, 7 am-5:30 pm Sat, 8 am-8:30 pm Sun. Free to JCC members; fee for non-members.
Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center
12701 N Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale
480-483-7121 • vosjcc.org/aquatics
New aquatic center with 2,500-square-foot splash pad. Call for hours and pricing.
These malls have free splash pads. There are ample seating areas so that parents can watch the little ones. Hours vary by location.
Chandler Fashion Center, 3111 W Chandler Blvd., Chandler. 480-812-8488, shopchandlerfashioncenter.com
CityScape, 1 E Washington St., Phoenix. 602-772-3900, cityscapephoenix.com
Desert Ridge Marketplace, 21001 N Tatum Blvd., Phoenix. 480-513-7586, shopdesertridge.com
Kierland Commons, 15205 N Kierland Blvd., Scottsdale. 480-348-1577, kierlandcommons.com
Outlets at Anthem, 4250 W Anthem Way, Phoenix. 623-465-9500, outletsanthem.com
San Tan Village, 2218 E Williams Field Road., Gilbert. 480-282-9500, shopsantanvillage.com
Scottsdale Quarter, 15059 N Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale. 480-270-8123, scottsdalequarter.com
Tempe Marketplace, 2000 E Rio Salado Pkwy., Tempe. 480-966-9338, tempemarketplace.com
Westgate Entertainment District, 6751 N Sunset Blvd., Glendale. 623-385-7502,westgateaz.com
WATER SAFETY
We all know the importance of swim lessons, but nothing replaces supervising children around water. The following events promote water safety information in a fun and educational way.
Cigna HealthCare of Arizona and the City of Phoenix Aquatics
For 29 years, Cigna HealthCare of Arizona and the City of Phoenix Aquatic Section have partnered to provide free water safety and fun programs for children and teens. These include Fiesta del Agua and Itty Bitty Peach Parties.
Fiesta del Agua
Phoenix Firefighters’ demonstration and instruction of CPR, swimming, water safety information and demonstrations, prizes, games and lunch. June 4, 2-5 pm at Maryvale Pool, 4444 N 51st Ave, Phoenix.
Itty Bitty Beach Parties
Water safety instruction, games, dance contests, swimsuit contests, Hawaiian leis, refreshments, sunglasses and more! For ages six years or younger and their parents.
June 10, 9:30-11:30 am at Paradise Valley Pool, 17648 N 40th St., Phoenix.
June 17, 9:30-11:30 am at Deer Valley Pool, 19400 N 19th Ave., Phoenix.
June 24, 9:30-11:30 am, Pecos Pool, 17010 S 48th St., Phoenix.
July 1, 9:30-11:30 am at University Pool, 1102 W Van Buren St., Phoenix.
For more information about water safety programs, visit phoenix.gov/parks/pools/cigna-summer-events.
