Editor’s Note: This is a personal review from 2012. Your experience may vary.
My kids vary in age from 15 months to 7 years, so finding activities that can adequately entertain all three of them at the same time is hard. We live very close to the Grayslake Spray Park, so we have rarely ventured to any of the other area parks, but last week we ventured to Mundelein to meet some classmates from school, and I am so glad we did!
The Mundelein Spray park is large, about twice the size of Grayslake, that is made up of two distinct splash pads/play areas.
The first area (right when you walk in) is geared to the younger crowd and was both fun for my 5-year-old and a perfect spot for my 15-month-old. There were lots of misters, a few arching water sprayers, large flowers dripping water, a small crab that you could slide on, and a water bubbler that would change in height.
My girls had a blast.
Next to this is a larger lighthouse that is built for older kids. Instead of a beam of light, this lighthouse shoots out water as it goes around. There are larger sprayers and misters and some shooting guns the kids can use.
A nice feature is that there is a lifeguard on duty watching over both spray parks. The guard mostly kept the big kids from running around and knocking over little ones; it’s a nice added layer of safety and allows me no not have to be always reminding my kids to walk!
There is also a large sandbox with a water feature. What I liked about the sandbox was that it was separated from the splash pads by a shaded sitting area, which kept the big kids at bay for a long time and meant my little sand eating toddler didn’t even know it was there.
The park boasts lots of shade both from trees lining it and a several large canopies hung together. There is also a picnic area that is completely covered and shaded.
While the park does have a water fountain and bathrooms, there are no locker rooms, just two stalls, and a sink. We were there right when they opened and left before it was too crowded, but I imagine that those get crowded and probably a little messy. Since I have a little one in diapers, it would have been nice to have even a small area to clean her up and change her into dry clothes.
Also, note that the spray park is not attached to Barefoot Bay in fact I’m not even sure you can walk there. The spray park is directly behind the community center at 1401 N. Midlothian Road (between Route 176 and Winchester Road).
The spray park costs $1 for Mundelein residents and $2 for non residents. Everyone, no matter the age pays to get in (so I paid $8 for myself and three kids). It’s an affordable option on hot day that is easier to for me to manage keeping track of all three kids then a pool is, we will definitely be going back!
Mundelein Parks & Recreation Spray Park
1401 N. Midlothian Rd, Mundelein, 60060 | (847) 566-8661
See the website for current hours and special rates.
Have you been to the spray park? What’s your favorite part?
Find more spray parks, water play, and everything summer at: Summer in Lake County.
I recommend using watershoes at this place because sand gets tracked into the water area from the sandbox area and it can be rocky to walk on.
We were there early and didn’t find this to be a problem, but water shoes are always a good suggestion for little feet!