Hello Summer! Nothing like kicking off summer with a record-breaking heat wave.
Whether you're looking to cool off by creek, pool, powerful AC, or frozen treat, we've gathered the best ways to keep cool around New Castle County!
WADING & SWIMMING
🏞️First National Historical Park
- Parking: Park behind the port-a-potties at the Smith Bridge picnic area near Ramsey's Farm, and take the path behind them. No fee.
- Features: Tubing, fishing, and wading destination.
- 82 Brandywine Creek Rd, Wilmington, DE 19803
Thompson Bridge Entrance, Brandywine Creek State Park
- Activities: Canoe, kayak, tube, fish, and swim.
- Boats launch from Brandywine Creek State Park from the Thompson Bridge Day Use Parking Area.
- 8 a.m. to sunset
- Parking fee: $4 in-state, $8 out-of-state, or State Park Pass.
- 4017 Thompsons Bridge Rd, Wilmington, DE 19803
Rittenhouse Park
- Walk to the back of the park to discover a sandy beach-like area.
- 228 W Chestnut Hill Rd, Newark, DE 19713
White Clay Creek State Park
- Numerous access points
- 1475 Creek Rd, Preserve Lot 2, or the Science Center parking lot.
SPLASH PADS IN WILMINGTON, DE
Open daily from 9 am to 6 pm until Labor Day
DOWNTOWN WILMINGTON
- ⛲Helen Chambers Park, Sixth and Madison Streets
- ⛲Mack Park, West 6th Street and North Ford Avenue
- ⛲Father Tucker Park, 9th and Lincoln Streets
- ⛲Kosciuszko Park, 601 South Franklin Street
- ⛲Woodlawn Park, Fourth and Ferris Streets
- ⛲Brown-Cihocki, Duncan Street and 8th Avenue
- ⛲Rodney Square, 10th and King Streets
@mackidnewcastlede Ready for some slides and rides without beach traffic? 🛝 Killens Pond Water Park has a baby pool with zero-depth entry and frog slides, switch a climbing structure, main pool with fountains, sprayers, and floating lily pad walk, and four 54’ slides! 💧 📍5025 Killens Pond Road Felton, DE 19943 Pricing: Under 48 inches: $8 weekdays / $10 weekends Over 48": $10 / $12 Before you go: ⏱️🎟️ Two ticket times: 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM and 2 to 6 PM (swim time ends 15 mins before close) No outside food is allowed, but they have a small concession stand 🍕🍧 Must be 48" for the slides 🛝 🛝🚣♂️🐥Plus, at Killens Pond State Park, offers boating, fishing, bird watching, biking, hiking, camping, state-of-the-art nature center, and more. Add this to your #summerbucketlist before they close on Labor Day! 🛝📆 @Delaware State Parks #killenspondstatepark #killenspondwaterpark #visitde #delawaretiktok #delawarefamilies ♬ Feels Like Summer - Samuel Jack
FREE POOLS
Eden Park Pool, New Castle Avenue, and the City Line
- Hours: Tuesday & Wednesday: 3 - 7 PM and Saturday & Sunday: 1 - 7 PM
Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Aquatic Center (formerly Price's Pool), 26th Street and Speakman Place
- Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday - Sunday 1 - 7 PM
Foster Brown Pool, 7th and Lombard Streets
- Hours: Tuesday and Thursday - Sunday, 1 - 7 PM
FREE INDOOR WILMINGTON DE POOLS
William "Hicks" Anderson Community Center Pool, 501 N. Madison Street
- Hours: Monday - Friday: Daily Adult Swim from 9 - 11 AM & 4 - 6 PM
P.S. DuPont Middle School, 701 W. 34th Street
- Hours: Monday, Tuesday & Friday: 12 - 6 PM and Wednesday & Thursday: 3:30 - 5 PM
George Wilson Center, 303 New London Road, Newark, DE 19711
- Hours: Tuesday - Saturday from 12:30 - 5 p.m. Closes 8/16.
BOATING
At Lums Pond, your family can tour the state's largest freshwater pond by kayak or canoe.
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@mackidnewcastlede Ready for some slides and rides without beach traffic? 🛝 Killens Pond Water Park has a baby pool with zero-depth entry and frog slides, switch a climbing structure, main pool with fountains, sprayers, and floating lily pad walk, and four 54’ slides! 💧 📍5025 Killens Pond Road Felton, DE 19943 Pricing: Under 48 inches: $8 weekdays / $10 weekends Over 48": $10 / $12 Before you go: ⏱️🎟️ Two ticket times: 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM and 2 to 6 PM (swim time ends 15 mins before close) No outside food is allowed, but they have a small concession stand 🍕🍧 Must be 48" for the slides 🛝 🛝🚣♂️🐥Plus, at Killens Pond State Park, offers boating, fishing, bird watching, biking, hiking, camping, state-of-the-art nature center, and more. Add this to your #summerbucketlist before they close on Labor Day! 🛝📆 @Delaware State Parks #killenspondstatepark #killenspondwaterpark #visitde #delawaretiktok #delawarefamilies ♬ Feels Like Summer - Samuel Jack
