Fun in the Water: Grand Rapids Pools, Splash Pads and Parks

Check in to a local hotel for exclusive access to an onsite pool or check out city pools and fitness centers for public swim times. Wherever you choose to swim, keep the 25/10 rule in mind when swimming with children: if a child is unable to swim 25 meters (about 80 feet) unassisted without stopping, a parent should remain in the water within 10 feet of the child.

Indoor pools are available to guests at 60+ area hotels, including nine downtown properties. Many pool facilities include a hot tub area and adjacency to an on-site fitness center – and, of course, the pool water is always heated to a comfortable temperature. 

Visit our Hotels page or scroll down to search for hotels with pools – just select “Indoor Pool” under “Narrow Your Search” at the left-hand side of the page. You can narrow your search even further by selecting a specific region and/or rate-per-night range.

Indoor Pool Pick:

Locals rave about the wheelchair-accessible indoor pool and Little Dip Splash Pad at Holiday Inn Grand Rapids – South. Features include a vortex pool, whirlpool jacuzzi, slides, tipping buckets and zero-depth toddler area. Four pool area access bracelets are included in room rental. Additional bracelets may be purchased Sunday-Friday only. 6569 Clay Ave SW.

The city of Grand Rapids operates three outdoor pools open to residents and visitors alike: Briggs Park  pool (in northeast GR), Richmond Park  pool (northwest) and Martin Luther King Jr. Park  pool (southeast). All three pools are open Tuesday-Sunday from June through August, and are staffed by lifeguards. Season passes ($5 for resident youth, $10 for non-resident youth and resident adults, and $20 for non-resident adults) are required for admission and are available at each pool.

A number of hotels also offer outdoor or indoor/outdoor pools, including Clarion Inn & Suites Airport, Drury Inn & Suites Grand Rapids, Knights Inn Grand Rapids, Residence Inn by Marriott Grand Rapids West, Staybridge Suites Grand Rapids - Airport and Sheraton Grand Rapids Airport Hotel. Outdoor pools are seasonal, please contact hotels for availability.

Outdoor Pool Pick:

The pool at Martin Luther King Jr. Park boasts a giant waterslide, shallow area for young children, an accessible lift and a new-in-2026 pool house with lockers and restroom/shower facilities. 1200 Martin Luther King Jr. St SE.

The Aquatics Center at The Salvation Army Kroc Center  houses a giant waterslide, water basketball court, zero-depth play area, a hot tub and a lazy river ideal for inner tubing and gentle aerobics. There are also three 25-yard lap lanes for more serious exercise. Visitors can purchase a day pass – $8 for ages 0-11 and $12 for ages 12+ – to access the Aquatics Center and other open recreation areas.

Byron Center Community Pool, Forest Hills Aquatic Center, Grand Valley State University, Jenison High School Aquatics Center, Kentwood Aquatics Center and North Rockford Middle School offer open-swim day passes on select days. Fees range from $2-$10 per day.

Daily guest passes can also be purchased to access pool facilities at several area YMCAs, including downtown’s David D. Hunting YMCA, southeast GR’s Mary Free Bed YMCA, Grandville’s Visser Family YMCA , Belmont’s Wolverine Worldwide Family YMCA and Wyoming’s Spartan Nash YMCA. Fees range from $7 (for ages 17 and under) to $15 (adults 18 and older) to $30 (for a family pass).

Fitness Center Pool Pick:

The Aquatics Center at The Salvation Army Kroc Center   houses a giant waterslide, water basketball court, zero-depth play area, a hot tub and a lazy river ideal for inner tubing and gentle aerobics. There are also three 25-yard lap lanes for more serious exercise. Visitors can purchase a day pass – $8 for ages 0-11 and $12 for ages 12+ –to access the Aquatics Center and other open recreation areas. 2500 S. Division Ave

The city of Grand Rapids operates 15 splash pads that are free to use and open daily from 10am-9pm during the summer season. They are situated in every quadrant of the city: northeast (Aberdeen Park, Fuller Park, Highland Park, Mary Waters Park), northwest (Lincoln Park), southeast (Alger Park, Cherry Park, Garfield Park, the Gerald R. Ford Academic Center, Joe Taylor Park, Mulick Park, Wilcox Park) southwest (Campau Park, Roosevelt Park) and even downtown (Heartside Park).

There are also splash pads in Cascade (Leslie E. Tassell Park), Coopersville (Pocket Park), Grand Haven (Grand Haven Splash Pad), Hudsonville (Terra Square), Jenison (Maplewood Park and Rosewood Park), Kentwood (Pinewood Park and Veterans Memorial Park), Sparta (Rogers Park), Wyoming (Gezon Park, Jackson Park, Lamar Park, Oriole Park and Southlawn Park) and Zeeland (City of Zeeland Splash Pad Park).

Splash Pad Pick:

The Mehney Splash Pad at Millennium Park was ranked the #7 best splash pad in the country by USA Today. It offers more than a dozen sprayers, buckets, splashers and other features, and it’s just steps away from a six-acre beach, swimming lake, boat rental facilities and assorted other amenities. Daily admission to the beach and splash pad ranges from $2-$4, with two-year-olds and younger admitted free. 1415 Maynard Ave SW. The Lamar Park Splashpad is a great free option, with brightly colored soaker stations, a water tunnel, fire hydrants and dumping buckets. Aqua chairs are available to make the splash pad accessible for people with disabilities. The chairs are free to use but a deposit is required.

The Children’s Garden at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park features one of the city’s most beloved water features: the Great Lakes Garden. This is a water play area where kids can launch a toy boat, build a bridge and walk on all the Great Lakes states. Kids can’t resist splashing about in the water, so bring a towel and change of clothes when you visit.

The Great Lakes Garden is open during warm-weather months. Admission to the Children’s Garden is included with general admission to the park: $25 for guests 14-64 years old and $14 for children 3-13. Kids 2 and younger get in free.

Action Wake Park in Hudsonville, about 20 minutes from downtown GR, gives guests the opportunity to learn how to wakeboard, water ski and kneeboard in a controlled environment, without the need for a boat. It also includes an Aqua Park with inflatable playground equipment on the water. Aqua Park open sessions range from $20 for an hour to $30 for an all-day pass. Wake Park passes range from $55 for two hours to $65 for all day. A $70 all-activity pass entitles guests to enjoy both parks all day long. Open May-October.

A little farther afield, Michigan’s Adventure & Wildwater Adventure Park offers three wave pools, body slides, speed slides, a “Funnel of Fear” slide and other water features for all ages, in addition to 60+ roller coasters and thrill rides. It’s located in Muskegon, about 40 minutes northwest of Grand Rapids, and is open seasonally. A single-day admission will cost $40 in 2026.

Rates and times can change without notice, so it’s best to check websites or contact hotels and attractions directly to confirm details before your visit.