Water parks, splash parks in Fresno area are opening just in time for Memorial Day weekend

Bryant-Jon Anteola
·2 min read

With Memorial Day weekend here and temperature highs in the 80s around the central San Joaquin Valley, it’ll be a popular time for outside activities.

A hike, a swim, fishing or just a walk around the park.

But one area that remains off limits — for safety reasons — is the San Joaquin and Kings rivers.

Especially in light of last week’s tragedy when two children drowned in the Kings River.

Water parks now open

So where can folks go for fun in the water?

Wild Water Adventure in Clovis celebrates its 50th season and opened for the first time this year Saturday. Daily admission ranges from $37.99 to $49.99. Season passes are selling for $109.99.

Island Waterpark in northwest Fresno also just opened with tickets $34.99 for children and $39.99 for adults. A season pass costs $99.99 and the parking pass another $20.

Free options

For free entertainment for the little kids, perhaps consider going to a splash park.

There’s no swimming and certainly no water slides or a wave pool.

But smaller children might enjoy cooling off with the various water contraptions at these parks.

The City of Fresno’s Parks and Recreations Department announced splash parks are now open with the water turned on from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. on the weekends and 2 p.m.-8 p.m. on weekdays.

Here are the locations:

  • Dickey Playground

  • Martin Ray Reilly Park

  • Melody Park

  • Todd Beamer Park

  • Figarden Loop Park

  • Inspiration Park

  • Mosqueda Community Center

  • Vinland Park

Go to a lake

Willing to drive a bit to go for a swim?

Then perhaps consider one of the nearby lakes in Fresno County and Madera County.

Some locations to consider:

  • Shaver Lake

  • Pine Flat Reservoir

  • Millerton Lake

  • Hume Lake

  • Huntington Lake

  • Redinger Lake

  • Bass Lake

“I want to encourage you, this weekend it’s going to be warm,” Fresno County Supervisor Nathan Magsig said. “And if you want to enjoy a couple of different places, the lakes we have in Fresno County are open, you can come and safely recreate there.”