��ѿ��ý

Anne Radford, the public information manager for ��ѿ��ý County Parks, says water features play a dual role for residents in the summer.

“[They’re] not only promoting fun times for families, but also used as a kind of cooling station that when people are hot they can also come to,” she says. All county park splash pads have a zero-point entry, safe for wheelchairs and residents with disabilities, Radford says.

So while bodies of water in a landlocked, nearly lakeless city can be hard to come by, here are some splash pads — most free, some a few bucks — that allow ��ѿ��ýans to stay cool all summer long.

Citygarden

��ѿ��ý is a sculpture-loving city, and Citygarden is one of its most beloved sculpture parks. Located downtown, the park spans two blocks covered by 24 interactive sculptures, a wading pool with flat rocks and a waterfall, and a splash plaza — all free. Paul Wagman, a spokesperson for the Gateway Foundation, which funds and manages the park, says that “extensive maintenance” was done on the spray plaza in the past year — so it should be in top shape. Kids (and leashed dogs, only allowed in the fountains) will love cooling off in the waterworks, which are open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. through Labor Day. Where 801 Market Street

Eise Memorial Park

The splash pad at Eise Park is small but gets the job done. Three colorful rings spray water onto those brave enough to run through them, and small sprinklers pop up from painted shapes on the concrete. The rest of the park offers cornhole boards, half-court basketball courts and picnic tables for those who want to stay dry. Where 12103 Bourbon Street, Maryland Heights

Jaycee Park

Jaycee Park was built in partnership with St. Charles Disability Resource Board and offers a beautiful, accessible design. The oval-shaped park is surrounded by greenery and has a swing area with all-ability swings, a wheelchair-accessible park for kids 5-12 and a water area for everyone to enjoy. The water area consists of a wide, shallow wading area with waterfalls that flow from walls of gray rock. Small sprinklers pop up around the splash pad, which is open through September. Where 1900 Randolph Street, St. Charles

Kade’s Playground

Kade’s Playground allows children of all abilities to play side by side. Its rubber-matted splash pad is pirate-themed, with fountains popping out from wooden ship structures and buckets of water pouring down from sail masts. A water table is situated in the middle of the plaza. Flat or sloped ground around the water area makes for easy wheelchair access. Where 886 Joachim Avenue, Herculaneum

Kiener Plaza

Framed by a dramatic background of the Gateway Arch, Kiener Plaza offers both historical and natural attractions for adults and a chance to run through fountains for kids (or, let’s be honest, anyone) on hot days. The recently renovated park sits in the middle of downtown and includes green spaces, cafe tables, garden beds and a playground. The splash pad, at the park’s western edge, is composed of nozzles that spray jets of water into the air at various intervals and heights during the day. Where 500 Chestnut Street

Leon Corlew Park

The Leon Corlew Park splash pad looks like something out of a Dr. Seuss book, with fountains shaped like brightly colored plants sprouting from a blue, rubber surface. The wheelchair-accessible pad is for all ages, with short bubblers at one end and dumping buckets at the other. Cathy Hensley, communications coordinator for the city of Edwardsville, says the pad was built in 2016 after a community survey found interest in adding water features to the park. Accessibility was a top priority when building it, she says. “Obviously, if we are going to serve our community, we need to be able to serve everyone,” Hensley says. The Leon Corlew Park water is on 9 a.m.-8 p.m. in summer, and concessions are available 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Where 337 South Main Street, Edwardsville

Millennium Park

At 25 acres, Millennium Park is one of Creve Coeur’s largest parks and one of the best for a summer barbecue. The park has a grill area, soccer and baseball fields, and of course, a splash pad. The pad is controlled by a timer button, allowing splash-seekers to control when they want to get wet without wasting water. Where 2 Barnes West Drive, Creve Coeur

Missouri Botanical Garden

Amid the greenery and blossoms of the Children’s Garden at the Missouri Botanical Garden is a small oasis of water. Jets emerge from the ground of the circular splash pad, which, of course, is plant-themed. The area also includes a play prairie village, tree house, playground and limestone cave. The Children’s Garden is free for ��ѿ��ý residents on Saturday mornings, with a maximum price of $5 for nonmembers ages 3-12. Where 4344 Shaw Boulevard

Musick Park

For Hazelwood residents who want their water play free, Musick Park offers a simple but effective design: a checkerboard-painted square with a couple dozen fountains of various heights for visitors to run through. The water zone is fenced in with benches for those who want to chaperone — safely out of the splash zone. Where 8617 Latty Avenue, Hazelwood

O’Day Park

From wedding venue to water park, O’Day Park in O’Fallon, Missouri, has it all. Acres on acres of sprawling lawns, trees and structures are both pretty and useful. The water features are nestled into the playground area of the park — fountains that sprout from concrete blocks trickle water down a gentle incline to a manmade stream — great for wading and splashing. Where 1000 O’Day Park Drive, O’Fallon, Missouri

Sugar Creek Park

While the park’s water area is certainly not the main attraction — likely rather the sports fields, nature-themed climbing playground or walking trail — Sugar Creek Park does offer a play fountain that squirts water from multiple heights for kids and toddlers to run through. Where 435 Des Peres Road, Des Peres

Tilles Park

Perhaps most famous for its Winter Wonderland Light Show, Tilles Park is also a fantastic destination on a hot summer day. The 29-acre park contains a plethora of attractions: two playgrounds, tennis courts, walking trails, hundreds of potential picnic spots and a splash pad, right next to the courts. The fountains operate 10 a.m.-8 p.m. through Labor Day. Where 9551 Litzsinger Road

Tower Grove Park

Nestled alongside the tennis courts in historic Tower Grove Park, youngsters will find the Muckerman Children’s Fountain, a spilling curtain of water flanked by a wading pool with pop jets. The fountain is open 10 a.m.-7 p.m. through Oct. 31. Playgrounds throughout the park offer interactive fun for kids of all ages. Where 4257 Northeast Drive

Vago Park

The small, concrete spray pad at Vago Park offers a lot for its size: swinging buckets that dump water, circular sprinklers, fountains of various shapes and sizes, and steps where caregivers can sit and watch without getting soaked. A sand volleyball court and multiple shaded pavilions complete the park’s summer package. Where 2700 Fee Fee Road, Maryland Heights

Veterans Tribute Park

From a lake to a spray area, Veterans Tribute Park has no shortage of water attractions. A wooded trail wraps around two small lakes that are home to a few families of ducks and frogs. The splash pad is near the playground, a small semicircle of concrete with fountains to run through and a small “creek” for wading. Where 281 West Veterans Memorial Parkway, Warrenton

White Birch Bay Aquatic Center

Probably one of the most expansive water parks in the ��ѿ��ý area, White Birch Bay Aquatic Center offers three separate pools, a lazy river, an accessible zero-point entry, and a plethora of fountains, waterfalls and slides. A splash pad has areas suitable for all ages. Entry passes for Hazelwood residents are $7-$8 and $14-$16 for nonresidents. The center also offers swim lessons, adult lap swim and swim team. Where 1186 Teson Road, Hazelwood

Willmore Park

Willmore Park benefits from a donation by Unlimited Play, a nonprofit that works to make playgrounds inclusive to children of all abilities. Theresa’s Splash Pad, named for a lifelong resident of the neighborhood, is simple — a flat concrete surface peppered with fountains of varying heights for residents to cool off in. Where 7200 Hampton Avenue

Zachary’s Playground

Hawk Ridge Park, known as Zachary’s Playground, is decked out in a castle and boat theme, meticulously painted in blue and yellow. All equipment meets or exceeds ADA standards, including the splash pad — a few pop jets and fountains on flat concrete. Where 8392 Orf Road, Lake Saint Louis