John Chavis Memorial Park Splash Pad
✓ Last confirmed for the 2026 season · confirmed against the parks department
Where: 505 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Raleigh, North Carolina
Season: April - October, weather dependent
Hours: 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. daily
Cost: free
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This downtown-adjacent splash pad sits next to Chavis Park's playground and historic carousel, with shade structures and umbrella tables around the spray area. There is no lifeguard, so adults must supervise children at all times.
What's on site. OpenStreetMap maps playground alongside, parking at this location. No public toilets are mapped here — worth knowing before you commit to an afternoon.
When to go. Peak summer highs in Raleigh average 90°F. Mornings and late afternoons are far more comfortable than the middle of the day, and shade is worth planning around.
How long it's open. Roughly 30 weeks a year, from April to October. Seasons shift year to year and municipal pads often close early for maintenance, so check before a long drive.
If this one's closed or packed
Splash pads close for maintenance, run short seasons and fill up on hot weekends. There are 5 other pads within 5 miles and 11 within 15. These are the ones worth the drive — ranked by shade, toilets and cost first, then by how close they are: