It is hot out there this week. Obviously, you don’t need me to tell you that. My point is – recently, readers shared some wonderful tips on where to go for a walk. But it’s just Too Hot!
I generally rely on the backyard sprinkler to cool the kids off. But that will get old rather quickly.
How do you like to have fun and cool off in this weather?
Last year a friend told me that she loves McDonald’s playspace for her kids. It only costs her the sundaes that her kids beg her for when they go. I’ve followed suit or sometimes chosen a mall.
A couple of years ago, Southborough Recreation had to give up the dream of a splash pad at the Arts Center. But there is free water play in surrounding towns:
- Northborough has a splash pad at Assabet Park
- Hudson has a splash pad at Celucci Park
- Marlborough has public wading pools at Ward Park and Farrell Field
All of these are now open for the season – though you may want to double check their hours before heading there. (You should also make a decision up front about whether or not to bring money for the ice cream truck. There’s a good chance one will come by while you’re there!)
Of course the playspaces and splash pads are for parents with children. They don’t make sense for everyone.
Some of my friends have invested in backyard pools. Others pay to join a club for the season.
(Others head to summer homes – but that’s cheating! I’m asking about local spots. This isn’t My New England.)
Do you have any tips on the best places nearby to have fun without overheating?
Update (6/25/13 4:58pm): For Seniors: I just read the following from the Southborough Senior Center newsletter:
If we do have severe hot weather please feel free to come to the Senior Center with your friends to keep cool, play cards, meet for lunch, or watch TV. If heat waves do occur please call us or the fire station for extended cooling center hours.
(photo from Flickr by starmist1)
Thanks for the tip about the Northborough splash pad – I thought it was Nboro residents only!
Jessica,
I think it is unless they have changed it. Most Northboro Parks are supposed to be for Northborough only. They use ours but we can’t use theirs. The playground on 135 near the Westboro line with the skate park has signs everywhere that it is for Northboro residents only.
I believe that it used to be there was a fee for non-residents. This is no longer the case. (I looked into that before writing the article.)
The splash pad is now unstaffed and there are no restrictions.
I brought my son there on Tuesday and ran into some other Southborough families. It was a lot of fun. But Northborough is on same school schedule as us, so the big kids were still in school. I don’t know how crowded it gets now that school is out.
Hopkinton and Ashland State Parks are great places to cool off. Its only $5 to get in or $35 for an annual pass that works at all the Mass State Parks.
You can also reserve and borrow the MA State Parks pass for the day from the library. It allows parking for free.
I picked one up last night that I had reserved for today. I guess I should have paid more attention to the weather!