FunKidsActivities

Gresham Splash Pad

401 NE 2nd St, Gresham, OR 97030, USA

Overview

Category:Indoor Water Parks
Location:Portland, OR

Expert Summary

Detailed Insights

Gresham Splash Pad is a highly-rated, free outdoor water play area renowned for its unique evening experience with illuminated water features. It's particularly appealing for families as it often coincides with free summer music events, offering a multi-generational entertainment option where kids can play while adults enjoy live music and readily available food/drink vendors.

Key Highlights

  • Completely free admission, making it a highly accessible family activity.
  • Unique evening experience with lights illuminating the splash pad, allowing children to play after dark.
  • Synergizes with free summer music in the park events (typically 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM), providing entertainment for both kids and adults simultaneously.
  • Reviewers consistently praise its cleanliness and safety.
  • Comfortable seating options for adults include shady trees, grass, benches, and concrete ledges for supervision.

Standout Features

  • Completely free of charge for entry and play.
  • Evening illumination for extended playtime, creating a magical atmosphere.
  • Regular free summer music events in the park directly alongside the splash pad, enhancing the family experience.
  • Presence of food and drink vendors during park events for convenient refreshments.
  • Ample shaded and unshaded seating for adult supervision (including trees, grass, benches, and concrete ledges).
  • Reported as 'super clean' and 'safe' by visitors.

Perfect For

Suitable for a broad range of children, specifically mentioned from toddlers to middle schoolers, suggesting appeal across various developmental stages.

Ideal For

Families seeking free, high-quality summer entertainment.
Evening outings with children who enjoy water play.
Parents looking to enjoy live music or relax while children are entertained safely.
Families with children across a wide age range (toddler to middle school) due to its broad appeal.

💡Pro Tips from Reviews

  • Visit in the evenings, especially during summer, to experience the illuminated splash pad and potentially coincide with free music events.
  • Check the local schedule for 'free music in the park' events (typically 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM in summers) to combine splash pad play with live music.
  • While currently highly positive, be aware of a parent's expressed concern regarding the potential future impact of new apartment development nearby.
  • Consider bringing cash or card for vendors if planning to purchase food or drinks during events.

Things to Consider

  • A parent expressed worry about the potential negative impact of nearby apartment construction behind the movie theater, fearing it may change the current positive dynamic of the city space in the future.

Price & Value

Absolutely free admission, offering exceptional value as a family adventure. It includes unique features like evening lights and synergy with free live music, providing high entertainment value for no cost. Any additional costs would be for optional vendor purchases during events.

Accessibility & Special Needs

  • No specific accessibility accommodations were mentioned in the reviews.

🍎Food & Drink Policy

  • Vendors with drinks and food are present during free music in the park events, offering convenient refreshment options. No explicit policy on bringing outside food or drinks for general use was mentioned.

🚗Parking Info

  • No information about parking availability or cost was mentioned in the reviews.

👥Crowd Levels

  • No direct mentions of current crowd levels. However, a reviewer's concern about future apartment construction suggests a potential for increased crowds in the long term, rather than an immediate issue.

🛡️Safety Features

  • Explicitly mentioned by a reviewer as 'safe'.

When to Avoid

  • No specific times or situations to avoid are mentioned based on current operational issues. However, parents should be mindful of the expressed concern about the long-term impact of new apartment buildings being constructed nearby, which could potentially alter the current environment or crowd levels in the future.

Pricing/Package/Events

Events & Schedule

🍎Food Policy

  • Glass containers in or near the fountain are not allowed.

🛡️Safety Policy

  • No life guard on duty.
  • Children must be supervised.
  • Do not use the fountain if you've had diarrhea in the last two weeks.
  • All people not toilet-trained must wear swim diapers.
  • Bathing or personal grooming in the fountain is not allowed.
  • Drinking and spitting the fountain water is discouraged.
  • Animals are not allowed in the fountain.
  • Swimsuits or clothing is required.
  • For emergency assistance, call 911.

🚗Parking Information

  • Bike parking available.
Information extracted from official website • Last updated: Oct 2, 2025

What People Say

What's Great

  • Fun and entertaining activities (mentioned in 2 reviews)

Recent Reviews

Destiny Blackwood

Destiny Blackwood

2 years ago

My 3 boys love to play at the splash pad! This is a wonderful family adventure at no cost. I am rather worried about the apartments being built behind the movie theater next to splash pad. I am certain once those are up this beautiful city space will not be the same.

Michelle Huston

Michelle Huston

2 years ago

absolutely the best splash pad I've seen in all the Portland I absolutely adore and cannot Raven up how the lights come on at night for those kids to still play in the water it is so amazing and so beautiful and they have such a good time kudos that was a job well done whoever planned that out can't wait to enjoy it the rest of the summer thank you for letting us be can't wait to enjoy it the rest of the summer thank you for letting us enjoy it 😎

Angie Korol

Angie Korol

2 years ago

Tonight we went to see the free music in the park, which runs from 5:30 to 8:30 in the summers. The splash pad still on at that time so kids can play and the adults can listen to the music and everyone can dance and have a good time. There are vendors with drinks and food it’s definitely worth checking out!

Judy Taylor

Judy Taylor

2 years ago

Kids really enjoy this location. They splash and play and have a great time. There are shady trees, grass, benches and concrete ledges for the adults to sit on as they keep watch over kids ages from toddler to middle school.

Stephanie Romo

Stephanie Romo

2 years ago

Always a fun place during the summer, super clean and safe!

Contact Information

401 NE 2nd St, Gresham, OR 97030, USA

View on Google Maps

Opening Hours

Monday: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Thursday: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Friday: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM

Quick Stats

Overall Rating
4.7
Total Reviews32
Recent Reviews5