Water Park Bucket List

By
Appears in the July 2022 issue.

While heading to a big-ticket water park resort makes for a fun summer road trip, there’s plenty of flashy aquatic features and slippery slides right in our backyard, courtesy of local park districts. Here’s our guide to the best splashes around.

Centennial Beach

500 Jackson Ave., Naperville
Admission: $4—$14
What’s cool: This historic quarry was first developed into a swimming facility in 1932; today it holds 6.2 million gallons of water.

Coral Cove Water Park

849 W. Lies Rd., Carol Stream
Admission: $7—$10 
What’s cool: The water playground features a massive dumping bucket that surprises swimmers throughout the day with a 100-gallon deluge.

Cypress Cove Family Aquatic Park

8301 Janes Ave., Woodridge 
Admission: $4—$17.50
What’s cool: Take a tube down Tabasco Falls water slide and float under a bridge into Cajun Creek, the park’s 600-foot lazy river.

Hall Quarry Beach

400 S. Water St., Batavia
Admission: $4—$13
What’s cool: This former limestone quarry dates back to 1852; in 1920, it became the town beach.

The Oasis Water Park

170 S. Circle Ave., Bloomingdale
Admission: $3—$10
What’s cool: Scale the aqua rock wall in the park’s diving well to take a plunge back into the water. 

Otter Cove Aquatic Park

3615 Campton Hills Rd., St. Charles
Admission: $11—$16
What’s cool: Rent a shade shell for $20/half-day.

Paradise Bay Water Park

437 E. St. Charles Rd., Lombard
Admission: $7—$16
What’s cool: Rubber Ducky Night is July 13, featuring duck races down the Pipeline slide.

Pelican Harbor

200 S. Lindsey Ln., Bolingbrook
Admission: $10—$17
What’s cool: Check out the four water speed slides—two enclosed and two open.

Rice Pool & Water Park

1777 S. Blanchard St., Wheaton
Admission: $7.50—$15
What’s cool: Don’t miss the hidden waterfall.

Sea Lion Aquatic Park

1825 Short St., Lisle 
Admission: $4—$13
What’s cool: The annual Cardboard Boat Regatta is August 6.

Splash Country

195 S. Barnes Rd., Aurora
Admission: $8—$13 
What’s cool: The 1,100-foot lazy river wends its way through sprayers, jets, dumping buckets, and bubbling rapids.

Turtle Splash Water Park

129 W. National St., West Chicago
Admission: $10—$15 
What’s cool: Take a break at Toucan’s Hideaway, a dry playground with double-decker net trails.  

Photos courtesy of Bloomingdale Park District, St. Charles Park District, Lisle Park District, Lombard Park District, and Fox Valley Park District