As you enter Killens Pond State Park ($4/in-state car, $8/out-of-state car), just when the kids start complaining about having to go to a dumb park—wait—what’s this? A water park? A water park that won’t break the bank? Yay! Climb fifty-four feet to the platform and you’ll find two speed slides and two spiral slides with tunnels. There’s also a main pool (the zero-depth entrance makes getting in and out easy) with underwater benches and a mushroom fountain; a tot pool with frog slides, bubblers, and fountains; and a tot lot with bubblers, water jets, slides, and a poolside waterplay system. There’s even a food concession and swim shop.
Adults and kids over 48” tall can go on the large waterslides and enter for $10 on weekdays ($12 weekends and holidays). Kids under 48” enter for $8 weekdays ($10 weekends and holidays) but aren’t allowed on the tall slides. You’ll want to visit the website to read the rules and reserve a session (on summer afternoons the park can reach capacity). There are two sessions per day: 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
You can stay all day, but you’ll have to pay again for a second session. But why do that when…There’s a pond! And it’s big enough (66 acres) to boat in (rentals available), hike around, fish in, or picnic by. Visit the park’s nature center to see live animals and learn about the creatures that live nearby. Enjoy their lovely deck—maybe even bring a picnic lunch. Consider a naturalist-led hike, kayak tour, or wagon ride. They even offer some night hikes. The fun never stops at Killens Pond
State Park!
Nancy Sakaduski is a local award-winning writer and editor who finds inspiration in the natural world.
