Local area kids beat the heat at Water Works in Cuyahoga Falls.

Credit: Beth Rankin

Looking for a cheap way to beat the heat this summer? Local swimming pools and water parks are a great way to cool off and have fun without breaking your budget.

Stow Silver Springs Park Swim Lake

“I like the sand!” Stow resident Sophia Oluic, 13, cheered as she ran down the beach. Sophia’s mother, Gisela Oluic, agreed with her daughter. She said it feels like she’s on vacation every time she gets to lie on the beach at Silver Springs Park.

Staffed with several lifeguards and a zero-depth edge, the lake is very safety-oriented. The park also hosts a swimming program taught by certified American Red Cross water safety instructors.

The park features several dry areas such as the shaded picnic area and sand volleyball court. Farther out into the lake, there is an island, diving board, deep-water slide and a basketball hoop. Guests can also rent inner tubes. Season passes and Stow resident discounts are available.

Tallmadge City Maca Pool

Tallmadge City Maca Pool features two swimming pools, one for adults and another for children. Guests can also enjoy two water slides that plunge into the deep end of the adult pool.

Kids can enjoy Special Event Wednesdays, which take place every week from noon to 4 p.m. Kids are the special guests on this day. The staff plans activities to interact with children, said pool manager Lauren Anderson.

The staff also hosts a kickball game for guests every Friday.

Water Works

Water Works Family Aquatic Center is not just an average swimming pool, it is a water park extravaganza.

There are several dry areas such as a sand-play area, sand volleyball, a concession stand and separate sun and shade areas with lounge chairs.

When guests are ready to cool off, they can head to the lazy river, six-lane lap pool, waterfalls or the shallow area full of geysers with a water-spraying elephant.

An enclosed tube slide and an open body slide drop into the six-foot deep end. Two smaller tube slides are perfect for the more timid guests and there is even a tot slide for young children.

Geauga Lake and Wildwater Kingdom

After months of anticipation, Geauga Lake’s new water park, Wildwater Kingdom, is now open to the public. Wildwater Kingdom features the tallest water slide in Ohio, Thunderfalls, which is 100 feet tall with seven individual slides.

The new children’s aquatic play structure, Splash Landing, is a great place for the younger guests. It includes a wading pool, slides, sprays, interactive bubblers and a huge tipping bucket.

The park also contains an area called Coral Cove, where guests can enjoy basketball hoops, interactive water sprays and climbable floatables. The upper pool of Coral Cove is a more relaxing area with bubbling pools, bench seating, waterfalls and geysers.

Guests of all ages can grab a tube and head over to Riptide Run, a 1,000-foot long action river full of waves and interactive spray gadgets.

And best of all, guests can enjoy a day at the amusement park as well as the water park for just $24.95. Group rates and season passes are also available.

Contact general assignment reporter Jessica Lentine at [email protected].