City Cast Salt Lake podcast host Ali Vallarta here. My New Year’s resolution is to visit all 511 parks in Salt Lake County, and I’m sharing stellar finds along the way.
We have been under the oppressive thumb of a heat wave. If you’re looking to cool off on the cheap, here are the best pools and splash pads I’ve found in Salt Lake parks.
Cottonwood Heights’ secret pool is tucked inside Crestwood Regional Park, with neighboring picnic tables and a few lap lanes. Open Monday through Saturday from noon to 6 p.m. and Sundays noon to 4 p.m. $3.50.
It was an 80-acre farm run by the Wardle family, now it’s Bluffdale’s hottest splash pad! Lots of room for play, plus an inch-deep lazy river for toddlers to toddle (and not get knocked down by the big kids). Open every day from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Free.
Conquer your fear of heights at the Oquirrh Park dive tower. (Shireen Ghorbani)
What’s up in Kearns? A three-level dive tower, splash pad dumping cup, and toddler-friendly slides. BYO well-stocked cooler. Open Monday through Saturday from noon to 8 p.m. and Sundays noon to 5 p.m. $6-$8.
The pool for Salt Lake City slickers offers more for grown-ups than kids, and maybe that’s its best quality? Take the Aqua Zumba class on your Tuesday lunch break. Open Monday through Saturday from noon to 6 p.m. and Sundays noon to 4 p.m. $3.50.
Extra credit: Do you look great in red? We are in a national (and county-wide) lifeguard shortage. Get lifeguard certified and help keep our pools open for long summer hours.
