Five fun cool places to take your kids near home

Don Reid, Coldwater Daily Reporter

BRANCH COUNTY — With school out and the heat index nearing 100 degrees this week, many parents are looking for ways to keep their kids cool and entertained.

Here are a few options:

Heritage Park Splash Park

The Heritage Park splash pad is free from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.
The Heritage Park splash pad is free from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.

It's mostly for kids, but adults get wet, too. The splash park, 1776 Heritage Drive in Coldwater, has 2,730 square feet of wet area, pumping 154 gallons of water per minute through a dozen spray features. The city added two new ones this year.

The entire park is computer-controlled. The spray unit will operates between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m.

The park has two public restrooms and a pavilion where you can get some shade and have lunch.

The splash park, built in 2017, is free and open to the community.

The Aqua Pit

The Aqua Pit on S. Michigan Avenue south of Sauk Drive opens everyday at 10:30 a.m.
The Aqua Pit on S. Michigan Avenue south of Sauk Drive opens everyday at 10:30 a.m.

Located at 221 S. Michigan Ave., the park is on a former gravel pit, now a lake. It has a giant inflatable obstacle course on the water called the HydroZone!

Also available are kayaking, paddle boarding, a beach, and scuba diving.

Aqua Pit is open Monday through Wednesday from 10:30 a.m. until 6 p.m. and until 7 p.m. the rest of the week.

Admission to the beach is $5. Other activities are $17 an hour or $28 for two hours.

There is a $40 all-day price for all activities.

Memorial Park – Messenger Lake Beach

New restrooms and beach changing area at Memorial Park beach ready for summer visitors.
New restrooms and beach changing area at Memorial Park beach ready for summer visitors.

Part of the Branch County Park system, Memorial Park off Behnke Road, has a beach on Messenger Lake with restrooms, a boat launch, three picnic shelters, and a playground.

The park is open to the public. The cost is $1 per vehicle, but you must have four quarters to get through the gate.

Much of the park is for seasonal camper rental space.

Public hours are 6 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Dr. Robert Browne Aquatic Center

You can swim indoors at the Robert Browne Aquatic Center of Western Avenue at Bishop Drive.
You can swim indoors at the Robert Browne Aquatic Center of Western Avenue at Bishop Drive.

The indoor swimming pool, located on Western Avenue at Bishop Drive on Legg Middle School grounds, is owned by the city and operated by Coldwater Community Schools.

Check the website to see when the Olympic-sized pool is available for open swims from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. when not used for classes or the swim team.

Saturday and Sunday open swim hours are from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Daily fees are $3 for Coldwater Community Schools students, and city or Coldwater Township residents are $4. Non-city residents are $8 per day. Extended pass plans at lower rates are available.

Adventure Zone

The amusement center at 125 West Chicago Road, next to the Capri Drive-In, expanded again, adding Duck Pin bowling to the indoor arcade games and activities. I

In the large building, there is also Lazer Tag, Lazer Maze, and virtual reality.

Go Cart drivers must be 54 inches tall and at least 9 years old. The price is $8 for six laps.

The original go-cart track and two outside miniature golf courses are part of the facility.

Adventure Zone opens daily at noon all year long.

More information can be found at https://278zone.com/index.php/attractions/

— Contact Don Reid: dReid@Gannett.com

This article originally appeared on Coldwater Daily Reporter: Five Branch County places to go with your kids this summer

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