Water Play On the Cheap

You don't have to spend a dime to have a watery good time. The emergence of the splash pad or spray ground in recent years has certainly been cause for celebration for families on a budget. The water features vary by park but include water cannons, geysers, misters and sand "beaches."

One of the most popular splash grounds can be found downtown at Discovery Green. The park's Gateway Fountain boasts a granite field of water jets with arching streams as high as 14 feet.  Nearby, the large stainless sculpture called Mist Tree has 80 nozzles that produce a curtain of misty, squeal-inducing rain.

The city of Pasadena got a drenching with the opening of three new splash pads. You'll find them in Memorial Park, Red Bluff Park and Sunset Park.

You can also find great splash pads in Pearland, TX at Independence Park and Westside Event Center.

And don't forget the splash zones found in some of the area's most popular commercial districts. Dancing Fountains are a magnet for kids (and sweaty adults) visiting the Kemah Boardwalk and the Downtown Aquarium.

Use the following splash pad locator to help you find a spot to cool off:  http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=202917162904798080787.0004700c6c0d274a2ae67&ll=30.094049,-95.326996&spn=0.958845,2.113495&z=10

Article credit to SYD KEARNEY, STAFF WRITER at Houston Chronicle.