By Kathy Feist
For some south Kansas Citians, the Red Bridge YMCA’s swimming pool may be off their list this summer, but there are plenty of places to dip your toe in south KC.
The Bay Water Park
The Bay, 7101 Longview Rd., will soon be sporting a new outdoor sign to spiff up the waterpark thanks to Kansas City Parks & Recreation. The park features a lazy river complete with waves and plunge pool, a giant swirl bowl slide, a swimming pool with hoops and floating lake animals, and a family play pool with slides, sprays, fountains and a huge dumping bucket. The Bayrider, a surf simulator, will not be open this season.
Free Day at the Bay is planned for Saturday, June 18 from noon to 6:30 pm featuring a free frozen treat and swimming. A bouncy house, food trucks and appearances from the emergency vehicles will be next door at the Refuge KC Church, 7208 Longview Rd.
The Bay is currently open Memorial Day to Labor Day, Monday through Sunday, noon to 7 pm. Costs vary from $4 to $9 based on size and age. Season passes are available at https://kcparks.org/places/the-bay-water-park/
Grandview’s Splash Parks
Grandview has two splash parks, including the newest one across from The View Community Center, 13500 Byars Rd. The Splash Pad, which opened in 2019, includes two slides, multiple interactive spaces, such as a large dumping bucket, play features, and water spray games. John Anderson Splash Park is located at 3701 E 135 St. and has spray and fountain features. Both The View Splash Park and John Anderson will be open on days that have a minimum high of 75. A day pass is required ($6-$9) at The View’s Splash Pad. John Anderson Splash Park is free and runs from 10:30 am to 7 pm. For more information on either splash park call 816-316-4888.
Sunnyside Park Splash Pad
The free splash pad at 8255 Summit St is open Memorial Day through Labor Day weekend. The simple fountains of water splash from 11 am to 7 pm daily.
Leawood Aquatic Center
Leawood’s Aquatic Park, 10601 Lee Blvd., will opened June 7th and will remain open until September 5, noon to 8 pm. The park features an Olympic size 50-meter pool and a separate youth pool that includes fountains and slides. Cost is $6 for residents and $9 for non-residents. For more information, check leawood.org/parks-and-recreation/aquatic-center/
Memorial Park Waterpark
Belton’s outdoor water park located at Memorial Park, 520 Maurer Pkwy, opens May 28 and runs noon to 7 pm everyday until August 22 when it switches to weekends only until Labor Day weekend. The small park features an action river, two-story water slide, a tornado slide and a small pool for the little ones. Cost is $6 for residents and $8 for nonresidents. For more info, visit www.beltonparks.org/141/Outdoor-Water-Park.
Longview Beach
Longview Lake Beach, 11101 Raytown Rd, is fully staffed and ready to open for the summer on Memorial Day weekend, Saturday, May 28 to August 12 (after that weekends only until Labor Day). Hours are 1 to 7 pm. Admission is $8 for adults and $6 for children. The one-acre sandy beach allows for swimming and laying out. But the remainder of the 930-acre lake can be accessed at the nearby marina for boat rental, kayaking, windsurfing, fishing, and other kinds of water sports. For more information go to www.makeyourdayhere.com/Parks-Lakes/Longview-Lake.