Take the Kids: Cool off in Wake Forest at Taylor Street Sprayground

The dog days of summer are officially here. Not only are kids getting bored with summer altogether, they're getting H-O-T.

Posted 1:00 a.m. Jul 26, 2019 — Updated 1:00 a.m. Jul 26, 2019

Coleen Hanson Smith

, Go Ask Mom writer

The dog days of summer are officially here. Not only are kids getting bored with summer altogether, they’re getting H-O-T.

Luckily, cooling off is easy at Wake Forest’s first and only splash park. The Taylor Street Park Sprayground is located at 416 N. Taylor St. and features dozens of splashing features. Our favorite of which was the “bucket trio,” featuring three brightly colored buckets that fill up with water every few minutes, delighting (or surprising!) the kids underneath.

While the park appears small at first, there’s something about water play that can keep kids busy for a long time – especially if you break for snacks or take advantage of the adjacent (and dry) park in between splashing.

Not only did my kids, ages 3, 5 and 6, have a blast, their slightly older cousins, ages 7 and 10, had an equally great time splashing around. For parents with younger kids, it’s a really nice (and easy!) way to get wet and beat the heat without worrying about water safety for kids who aren’t great swimmers yet. (Wake Forest also offers a three-pool aquatic complex, which opened for the first full season this summer.)

Public pools in Raleigh, Durham, Triangle

Parking is convenient, and the park features a clean family restroom, which we used to change into dry clothes before heading out to lunch in downtown Wake Forest.

A Few Things to Know Before You Go

Bring friends! When it comes to water play, the more, the merrier.
Wear sunscreen and bring sunglasses/hats – the sprayground is in full sun.
Ideally, put the kids in water shoes so they can splash around without falling or stepping on a bee. (We saw quite a few bees around the splashing area.)
Kids should definitely wear their swimsuits. We even spotted several dads in full swim gear.
Pack plenty of towels. My kids somehow managed to get more wet splashing around than they do in the pool.
If the water stops, don’t fret. Simply press the button located near the wall to get the water flowing again.
Pack a snack or even a picnic – the adjacent park has a shelter and picnic tables.
While there is a bench and a wall you can sit on, you can also bring your own camp chairs if you want to park for a while.

If your kids work up an appetite splashing around, there are some great local eateries right down the road on White Street. We tried Shorty’s Famous Hot Dogs, which was perfect for a quick, kid-friendly meal.

Go Ask Mom’s Take the Kids series is your No. 1 resource for weekly ideas about kid-focused places to take your family in the Triangle and beyond. New articles are published every Friday.

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