El Cerrito Splash Park is open! Woohoo! If you have little ones who love scampering around in water for a few hours, the El Cerrito Splash Park is the place to be. Drop-in hours are wide open this time of year. The best part of this splash park is that toddlers and little kids can enjoy playing in the water pretty much independently, so parents don’t even have to get wet if they don’t want to!
For parents of little ones who are not comfortable at a pool, the splash pad will provide an opportunity for safe, wet fun without anxiety. There aren’t many spray parks in the area; it’s a feature more commonly found deeper in the suburbs. So this is a unique opportunity for a different type of water play at a nearby public pool.
Plan Your Visit to El Cerrito Splash Park
The Splash Park section of the El Cerrito Swim Center is at the back end of the center and is completely fenced in. There’s grass surrounding the splash pad, so bring along a blanket to lay out and set up camp. There’s some shade from surrounding trees, but the shade is harder to find when it gets busy. So bring hats and sunscreen for sure.
The water is pretty chilly and it’s not always super hot in El Cerrito, so be sure to bring cozy towels and a change of clothes for when your kids’ lips start to turn blue.
Pro Tip: The recommended age for Splash Park is 7 and under, but I asked the front desk and they said older kids are allowed too on certain days. Big kids just need to be aware of the little ones. So if you have mixed-aged kids, it’s okay to bring the whole brood — just check the schedule in advance.
What to bring:
- beach blanket
- hats, sunscreen, swim shirts
- goggles
- towels
- snacks
- Water shoes — the splash pad is concrete
- water toys
El Cerrito Splash Park Details
Currently Posted Hours: (always subject to change)
Schedule as of April 15, 2025
Monday – Friday : 9 am-7 pm, only ages 7 & under
Saturday – Sunday : 9 am-6 pm, all ages
If you’re interested in Family Swim in the pool area, check their hours here >>
Pricing:
Drop in at the Splash Park for $5 during Splash Park only times for ages 2+ (FREE for one and under). Family Swim in the pool area is a separate price/time and is not to be combined with Splash Park anymore. Head’s up the pool’s water slide is TBD for Summer of 2025; repairs are ongoing.
You can also buy a 15-Punch Pass for $50 for Residents or $63 for Non-Residents. Passes are available for purchase online by clicking “Passes”, though you can also buy them at the pool.
Easy free parking in the lot out front. Find free parking on neighborhood streets when the lot is full.
Bathrooms and changing areas are available by the main pool.
Bring snacks or lunch to enjoy a meal on the lawn.
