A classic sprayground with cool river views
Nestled along the riverfront in Yeatman’s Cove is one of Cincinnati’s best kept summertime secrets – the Otto Armleder Memorial Aquatic Sprayground. This sprayground is huge, there is no entry fee, and it is rarely super crowded. And its location gives it one advantage over others – a cool view of the Ohio River.
Unfortunately, as of May 2022, this sprayground will be closed for the 2022 season due to on-going maintenance issues.
Otto Armleder Memorial Aquatic Sprayground
Otto Armleder Memorial Aquatic Sprayground Highlights
- Located along the Ohio River front in Yeatman’s Cove
- Huge sprayground area with many different sprayers
- Open daily from 10:00am to 9:00pm for summer 2021
- No entry fee or reservations required
Overview
The Otto Armleder Memorial Aquatic Sprayground is located along the Ohio River in Yeatman’s Cove. It is just back from the Serpentine Wall and east of the Taylor Southgate Bridge. For more kid-friendly landmarks, the sprayground is located between Smale Riverfront Park and 1000 Hands Every Child’s Playground.
There are many places to park along the riverfront, but the Sawyer Point parking lot is closest to the sprayground. The sprayground has two entrances – one off of the street where US-52 meets E. Pete Rose Way and one from the park, facing the Ohio River.
For summer 2021, the sprayground is open daily from 10:00am to 9:00pm.
The water
The Otto Armleder Memorial Aquatic Sprayground has a huge surface area of sprayers that can accommodate a lot of kids (and parents). The sprayers are arranged in a large bullseye with an inner and outer circle of sprayers. This provides a large area to run around and through the water.
Different sized sprayers shoot water at different heights throughout the water area. It does not, however, have any fancy water cannons, spraying hoops to run through or any sort of theme. This sprayground is more akin to a giant sprinkler.
If you grew up in Cincinnati, you may remember Otto Armleder Memorial Aquatic Sprayground as the spot where you could play on the big concrete steps as water rushed down. Although those steps are now fenced off, this sprayground is still a lot of fun and is a great spot to cool down on those hot Cincinnati summer days.
The facilities
The Otto Armleder Memorial Aquatic Sprayground is completely fenced in, except for the 2 entrances – one on the park side and one on the street side. There is a ramp and a set of stairs leading in from the park side; there is no incline from the street entrance.
The men’s and women’s restrooms are located along the back wall of the sprayground. Although there is no specific changing room, there is a family restroom type set-up located in the same space as the women’s restroom. And guys, be prepared to get wet – there is really no way to avoid getting sprayed by water when walking to the men’s restroom.
The sprayground has plenty of seating, with a large concrete bench and stadium seating to the side of the fountains. There is also a big lawn area outside of the sprayground with an awesome view of the Ohio River that makes the perfect spot for a picnic.
Overall, the Otto Armleder Memorial Aquatic Sprayground is the perfect spot to cool down and soak up some beautiful views of the Ohio River this summer. This classic sprayground is huge, and is so much fun if you love running around in the water with your kiddo. And BONUS – the sprayground is only a 5 minute walk from the super fun 1000 Hands Every Child’s Playground at Sawyer Point.
Otto Armleder Memorial Aquatic Sprayground is located at 472 E Pete Rose Way, Cincinnati, OH 45202
If you like this post, make sure to check out the best splash pads in the Cincinnati area.