There are not enough words in all the languages of man to describe how hot it is in Houston right now. The sun rules us like a Pharaoh, only with more cruelty and sweat. You venture outside at your own peril, and if you do it's like being wrapped in wet towels that are also somehow on fire.
But, summer is also the time when schools stop watching our kids for us for free and if you want to keep them from trying to shove a cheese sandwich into your PS4 then it's good to get them out of the house. Luckily, there are splash parks all over the city full of sprinklers and water features for them to horse around in, and ever better, most of them are completely free!
A note: In general we're talking about play areas with water features, not actual water parks.
The Aquarium is a great place to blow a few hours, and the all-day passes are a really good deal. There's one aspect of the Aquarium though that you don't have to pay any money to enjoy, and that's the water playground in from of the stage. It's nothing fancy, but it can take the sting off the heat while waiting in line for the Shark Train. It's also the only splash park that regularly has music playing, which is a plus or minus depending on how sick you are of "Gangnam Style".
Another bare bones affair, but unlike the Aquarium at this butterfly-themed park you don't have to pay to park and the other amenities are free. All of Jaycee is really well maintained and clean, and the rest of the playground equipment is some of the best in the city. Another plus is that Jaycee has port-a-potties so you can change (In a cramped environment, true) from water clothes to regular clothes.
Marian Park already has a wonderfully wide-open feel to it. The splash pad there was opened in 2011, and features three different areas with controllable features. It's one of the easier parks to sun around in unencumbered, and is a perfect place to occupy a child while you take in an aerobics class at the community center.
7. Ervan Chew Park
Shady and pleasant and right in the heart of Montrose, most people I know aren't even aware this park exists. The splash park aspect has some really great sprays, including a cage of streams that the kids can control themselves while a friend huddles down to try and stay within the spray. There's also a dog park here, so you can let both human and furry rascals run off that excess energy.
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