On a recent spring weekend, my family opted for a laid-back afternoon at the park. My husband and I, with our three year old and six year old, headed to the Lowes Foods City Park in downtown Hickory. It was perfect weather for exploring many of the creative, interactive play structures, but the feature with the greatest appeal to my kids was the water play area. What started as a "stick the toes in" situation quickly turned into a drenched "free-for-all" (thank goodness for that spare change of clothes in the van!) and my kids had a blast!
Located just a few steps away from Hickory's Farmers Market and the Carolina Theatre, Hickory's newest playground is a perfect warm weather spot to cool off and have fun. In addition to numerous fantastic playground components, this park boasts a small water feature ideal for a quick splash. Unlike some of the other splash pads in the area, the Lowes Foods City Park features a randomized fountain that is just right for splashing but is not guaranteed to drench, as it lacks an overhead water source. Random waterspouts will leave your little ones dashing from one spot to the next, so rubberized water shoes would be advisable.
There are also beautiful mosaic benches with plenty of shade next to the fountain, so caretakers can be close by, but not necessarily in the "splash zone." The touch activated feature conserves water when not in use, and the ground level surface should be accessible for most families. Two unshaded picnic tables are also adjacent. While there are no restrooms right at the park, there are some a short walk away across the street at The Sails on the Square. Located on the corner of Third Street NW and Main Avenue NW, Lowes Foods City Park is a great place to dash for your next low-key splash!
We were only able to spend a few minutes splashing, but we will definitely be returning (with swimsuits!) for more fun this summer!
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Like this article? Check out these other reviews of local splash pads in our area:
- Conover City Park - Conover, NC
- Martha's Park - Morganton, NC
- Kiwanis Park - Hickory, NC
and don't miss our huge list of local places to get wet with info on local splash pads, pools, lakes, water parks and more!
