Beat the heat at Twin Hickory Park Splash Pad, a large spray park with lots of shade!

Twin Hickory Park in Glen Allen, Virginia, is one of the nicest, largest, and cleanest parks we have ever visited. While my children have enjoyed the playground in the past, what they really love is the splash pad! It is one of the largest we have seen! I feel safe letting my children play at the splash pad, because I can see them at all parts of the spray park, from where I sit. Also, even on the hottest days, it is never too crowded. I can always spot my kids, and there is ample room for them to run and play without running into another kiddo.

The cute, whimsical details make this a unique spot! My children love to play on the frog, and climb on the turtle. There is also a cute little tree they dubbed the "Fairy Tree", and they play creative, imaginative games there. Sometimes we bring buckets or small cups for the kids to "catch" and pour the water, but it is not a necessity.  Kids have fun just running and splashing without any extras!

Bathrooms are conveniently located by the parking lot, so you can change into dry clothes before leaving.  When it is not too hot, we park at the front of the park, by the tot lot, and walk the paved path to the larger playground and splash pad.  On the hottest days, we park in the second, large parking lot directly in front of the splash pad.  

I like to sit under the covered area. This is also where my children come to have snacks and take a break. There is a large picnic table here, and it's between the playground and splash pad, so if you had kids who wanted to do both activities, this would be a good "home base".  Of course, with all summer activities here, I make sure to have plenty of water on hand, and encourage them to drink whenever they take a break.  Also, I have my kiddos wear watershoes, because when they step out of the water area, the pavement is hot!

The splash pad usually turns on in early May and stays on until Labor Day.  Follow Henrico County Parks & Recreation on Facebook and Instagram for updates, as they will share scheduling information there.

We usually spend about an hour and a half at the splash pad. After changing into dry clothes, we love to head over to Frost Gelato in Short Pump Mall, about five minutes away.  It is such a fun way to cool down after a morning of playing in the heat.  Alternatively, if you are looking for a free way to cool down, the Twin Hickory Library, a branch of the Henrico County Library, is in the same loop as the splash pad.  You could either walk or drive there.