It’s become the norm every summer: once again, temperatures across Spain are breaking records, and Madrid is no exception. Faced with the successive heat waves of recent months, those who, for one reason or another, cannot escape the capital are looking for ways to cool off.
To the relief of those suffering from the high temperatures, the Community of Madrid’s municipal swimming pools and the famous water fountains at Madrid Río are now open, but there are other options.
One of them is in Villaviciosa de Odón, where the city council has opened the new Splashpad park. Although its opening had to be delayed to ensure the proper functioning of its delicate water circuits, the facilities are now open to the public completely free of charge.
The park is divided into three zones:“one for children, another for families, and a third for teens,” as the city council states on its website. Thus, this new recreational area isn’t reserved just for the little ones; rather, it’s designed to provide a splash of fun for visitors of all ages.
Location and hours of the Splashpad park
The Splashpad park is located in El Castillo Park ( across from Villaviciosa Castle), popularly known as Parque de los Patos. It will be open every day from 11:00 a. m. to 10:00 p. m. throughout the summer. In addition to the water features, there are also green spaces and shaded benches around the park.
The games are very simple to use: the water circuits are activated by pressing different buttons. After four minutes, you need to press them again to restart the circuit.