We needed to cool off a little while we were in Tempe recently and decided to stop by and check out Jaycee Park in Tempe. There is lots to do, but very little shade at the park.
Splash Pad
This splash pad had some fountains, circles with most, and some pretty epic sprayers. You want the one on the west side of the pad if you are in a water fight. The toddler playground is right next to the splash pad, so it might be covered in sand from time to time. There is no shade over the splash pad, there is a small ramada not far from the pad and a couple of trees, but if you want shade you may need to bring some of your own. Note, this splash pad is concrete, so it’s probably best to wear water shoes.
Playground
This sand playground for big kids has fun tunnel slides, a big kid teeter-totter, ramps for running, small rock wall, tire swing and all kind of things to climb.
The toddler playground is where we played about 90% of our time here, running through the water to cool off, then back to the firetruck and excavator. There are also 2 toddler sings and an old car to climb on.
One thing I would like to note is that we found a lot of broken glass in the sand. The kids were digging and thought they were treasures. I immediately realized there were large shards of broken glass all over the toddler playground. Fortunately, we had shoes on and no one was hurt, but keep an eye on your kids here and all playgrounds of course.
Park
Jaycee Park in Tempe is a 7-acre park that includes a baseball diamond, basketball courts, softball fields, volleyball courts, dog park, picnic tables, ramadas, recreation/community center, playground, splash pad, and public restrooms.
I wanted to point out that there is a fence around this playground and a splash pad. There is not a lock, but it could slow down a kid making a run for the road.
Getting There
There is a parking lot right off 5th Street. We were able to park directly next to the splash pad, making it very convenient for changing in and out of suits.
817 W 5th Street
Tempe, AZ 85281
