Waterparks offer sweet relief

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FILE PHOTO FROM 2009 Lifeguards test out the tidal-wave inspired 'Great Barrier Reef' pool while taking part in life-guard training at Raging Waves Water Park in Yorkville Wednesday morning. The water park opens May 30. 5/26/09

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Updated: July 1, 2011 7:50PM

We survived a cold, snow-filled winter capped off by the Groundhog Day blizzard, only to be insulted with a chilly, rainy spring.

But that’s all behind us now. Finally, summer is here. It’s time to pull out the bikinis and beach towels, slip on a pair flip-flops, slather on the SPF 50 and head out the doors in search of water fun.

Here’s a handy guide to some area pools and water parks. Before you go, check the web sites for rain-out policies and other rules, including regulations on flotation devices, lifejackets, swim masks, coolers and outside food and drinks.

Atcher Island: Schaumburg Park District’s Polynesian-themed water park has water slides, a circular drop slide, children’s sprayground and more. Must be 48” tall to ride the slides. Concessions are available on site. Cost: Non-resident $9/$7 kids. Resident $7/$5 kids. Kids under 2 free. Hours: 11 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Mon.-Fri. 12-8 p.m. Sat.-Sun. 730 S. Springinsguth Road, Schaumburg. (847) 985-2135. parkfun.com.

Centennial Beach: Naperville’s longtime summer hotspot received a $5 million makeover during the offseason. The former quarry now sports more rooms at the historic bathhouse, including more family changing rooms and deck-level rest rooms; a Centennial Grill eatery featuring hot and cold foods, more picnicking areas, and an improved drop-off/pick-up area. Water attractions include depths of zero to 15 feet, a large, sandy beach, shallow-end slide, diving complex and water buckets. Hours: 11 a.m.-8 p.m. through Aug. 14. Call or check website for hours Aug. 15-Sept. 5. Cost: $6 resident/$10 non-resident; $3 after 5 p.m. 500 W. Jackson Ave., Naperville. (630) 848-5092. centennialbeach.org.

Cypress Cove Family Aquatic Park: This park features a spray playground with geysers, water curtain and oversized dumping bucket; a zero depth pool, a 600-foot lazy river, three body slides, a tube slide, a kiddie slide, a tot flume slide, a sand play area and concession stands. Hours: 11:30 a.m.-8 p.m. daily through Aug. 21. Cost: Non-residents $13, $6.50 seniors, kids under 1 free. Residents: $8; $4 seniors. Discounted price after 5 p.m. 8301 S. James Ave., Woodridge. (630) 985-5620. woodridgeparks.org.

Dolphin Cove Family Aquatic Center: The new Discovery Fountain in the Sandcastle Beach area has bubblers, a flushing funnel, flow gates and paddle wheel. There is a zero-depth beach area with geysers and slides for small children. There is also Rip Tide body slide and the Typhoon tube slide and a diving well; as well as the Sand Bar Cafe and gift shop. Hours 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Mon.-Fri.; noon-6 p.m. Sat.-Sun. Cost: $7.50, $6.50 age 3-9 and seniors. Residents $5, $4 kids age 3-9 and seniors. Reduced rates in evening. 300 N. Kennedy Dr. (routes 25 and 68), Carpentersville. (847) 428-7131. dtpd.org.

Harold Hall Quarry Beach: Harold Hall Quarry Beach draws more than 65,000 visitors each season with its kid’s flume, sandy beach and swimming area, drop slide, picnic area, concession stand and sand volleyball courts. Hours: 12-6 p.m. daily through Aug. 21. Open 12-7 p.m. on Fridays. Cost: $10, $7 resident. $5/$2 on “Way Back Wednesdays.” 400 S. Water St., Batavia. (630) 879-5235. bataviaparks.org.

Heritage Falls Water Park: New this summer is a splash pad to go with its water slide and two diving boards. There’s also a fenced-in baby pool and vending lounge. Mark your calendar for a Dive-In movie night with “Megamind” at 7:30 p.m. July 22. Hours: 12-7 p.m. Monday-Friday; 12-5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday through Aug. 14. Open weekends after that from noon to 5 p.m. through Sept. 5. Cost: $7/$5 for resident with ID card. Cash only. 101 Troxel Ave., Romeoville. (815) 886-6263. lockportpark.org.

Hidden Creek AquaPark: This park district-run water park features a winding water slide and a drop slide, water playground, sand area and lap pool. Soak It Up season opening party 11 a.m.-2 p.m. June 12. Hours: 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Mon.-Thur., 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Fri.-Sun. June 11-Aug. 21. Cost: $12; $7 residents. Free for kids 3 and under. Reduced rate in evening. 1220 Fredrickson Place, Highland Park. (847) 433-3170. hiddencreekaquapark.org.

Hurricane Harbor: The water park at Six Flag Great America opened in 2005 and expanded this year with the opening of Riptide Bay. Hurricane Harbor now spans 20 acres and has five new slides, a double Surf Rider, massive lagoon, cabanas, gift shop and a new snack bar. This joins attractions such as the six-story Tornado, as well as the Vortex and Typhoon, Hammerhead and Barracuda, and Castaway Creek lazy river. Hours: 11:15 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday-Sunday; 11:15 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday in June; 11:15 a.m.-7 p.m. daily July 1-Aug. 7; then daily hours vary through Aug. 21, Aug. 27-28 and Sept. 3-5. 542 N. Cost: Buy tickets online and save $20. Visit the web site for prices; your ticket gets you into both Hurricane Harbor and Six Flags Great America. Route 21, Gurnee. (847) 249-4636. sixflags.com.

Mayan Adventure Indoor Water Park: The Waverton Hotel boasts an indoor water park with waterslides, lazy river, family activity pool and 300-gallon dumping basket. Cost: $30 full-day pass, $20 half-day pass. Free kids under 2. Day passes not available after 3 p.m. Saturdays. Hours: 9 a.m.-10 p.m. daily. 624 N. York Road, Elmhurst. (630) 279-1100. mayanindoorwaterpark.com.

Oak Brook Park District Family Aquatics Center: This indoor park offers a water playground with geysers, a 105-foot long slide, six lap lanes, whirlpool and an outdoor splash park. Hours: 12-4 p.m. and 6-9 p.m. Mon.-Thur.; 12-9 p.m. Friday; noon-5:30 p.m. Sat.-Sun. Water slide is closed Mon.-Wed. Outdoor splash park hours 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Mon.-Fri.; 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Sat.-Sun. Cost: Non-resident $12; $8 kids 3-17 and seniors. Resident: $10; $6 kids 3-17 and seniors. 1450 Forest Gate Road, Oak Brook. (630) 990-4233. obparks.org/aquatics.html.

Otter Cove Aquatic Park: The theme of the brand-new Otter Cove is a river otter and his friends; including Frog Bog’s activity pool, the Dragonfly Den toddler pool, Crayfish Canal lap pool, Turtle Creek Lazy River and Salamander Slides. There are also diving boards, a splash park and concession area. Hours: 12-8 p.m. weekdays; 11:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturdays; and 11:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Sundays through Aug. 14. Hours vary Aug. 15-Sept. 5; check website. Cost: $9 for residents 16 and over and $13.50 for non-residents; the cost for children ages 15 and under is $8 residents and $12 non-residents. Senior and twilight rates available. 3615 Campton Hills Road, St. Charles. (630) 513-4377. ottercove.org.

Pelican Harbor Indoor/Outdoor Aquatic Park: The outdoor park features a lazy river, adventure channel, four speed slides, diving well, spray playground, a zero-depth entry pool, beach volleyball, sand playground area, picnic area, concessions and family changing areas. The indoor park has a lap pool, two water slides, tumble buckets, Parkie the Pelican tot slide, drop slide and 10-person whirlpool. Hours: 12-8 p.m. Mon.-Fri., 12-6 p.m. Sat., 10:30-6 p.m. Sun. Cost: $15, $8 resident, free kids under 2. 200 S. Lindsey Lane, Bolingbrook. (630) 739-1705, (630) 739-0272. bolingbrookparks.org.

Phillips Park Aquatic Center: This park offers two drop slides and three body slides. The kid’s sprayground includes spray guns, waterfall, a small slide and dumping coconut tree. There is also a lap swim area, two sand volleyball courts and a concession stand. Hours: noon-7 p.m. daily through Aug. 21; and Aug. 27-28 and Sept. 3-5. See website for admission prices. 828 Montgomery Road, Aurora. (630) 851-8686. foxvalleyparkdistrict.org.

Raging Waves WaterPark: Illinois’ largest water park boasts 18 slides; including PJ’s Plummet, The Cyclone, The Boomerang, the Platypus Plunge and Tasmanian Twisters. There’s also a wave pool, lazy river and a kiddie area with slides, water cannons, zero depth pools and sand. Check the website for info on special events, including the tot-friendly Wee Widdle Wednesdays. Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily in June; 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Sat.-Thur.; 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Fri. in July; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Aug. 1-21, 27-28, and Sept. 3-5. Cost: $28.99 adult/child taller than 48”, $18.99 seniors and children under 48”, free kids 2 and under. After 3 p.m. $19.99 adult/child taller than 48”, $13.99 seniors and children less than 48”. Lockers extra. 4000 N. Bridge St. (IL 47), Yorkville. (630) 882-6575. ragingwaves.com.

Sea Lion Aquatic Park: This park features a leisure pool specifically for teens, plus two body slides, two drop slides, water cannons, vortex pool, an all-ages splash playground, baby pool and sandy play area for children 5 and under, spa area for adults. Hours: 12-9 p.m.; closed 5:30-6:30 Mon.-Fri.; through Aug. 21. Post-season hours vary through Sept. 5. Cost: Non-resident $13, resident $7. Seniors discounted $1. Kids under 2 free. Evening rates after 4:30 p.m. 1825 Short St., Lisle. (630) 964-3410. lisleparkdistrict.org/slp.htm.

Splash Country Water Park: The Fox Valley Park District’s other water park features the second-largest lazy river in Illinois, with 1,100 feet winding through dumping buckets, sprayers, jets and a bubbling rapids. The park also has an enclosed tube slide and an open tube slide, and an enclosed kiddie area with spray guns, waterfall and other interactive features for the under-48 inches tall set. Also included are volleyball courts, a sandy play area and concession stand. Hours: 12-7 p.m. daily through Aug. 14. See website for admission prices. 195 S. Barnes Road, Aurora. (630) 906-7981. foxvalleyparkdistrict.org.

Splash Station Water Park: Splash Station boasts a ride called Miner’s Mountain, the Midwest’s only six-lane slide, where people race down 200 feet headfirst into the water. Other attractions include two body slides, two tube slides, the Raging Rapids lazy river, zero-depth pool and sandy play area. Concessions available. Hours: 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sun.-Thur.; 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Fri.-Sat. through Aug. 14. Cost: Non-resident $13, $9 kids 48 inches and under. Resident $9/$6. Kids under 3 free. Twilight and senior swim discounts available. 2780 Channahon Road, Joliet. (815) 741-7275. jolietsplashstation.com.

Stingray Bay Family Aquatic Center: This park district-run facility features two 138-foot-long water slides (must be 42” or taller), two tot slides, rain drop, large sand play area, zero-depth simulated beach area, diving boards, sand volleyball court and four floating animal features. Hours: 11:15 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 11:15 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday, 12:15-6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Park opens 15 minutes earlier daily for season pass holders. Cost: Nonresident and resident children under 3 admitted free. Resident/nonresident youth ages 4 to 17 is $6/$8; adults (18 to 54) $8/$10; seniors (55 and older) $7/$9. After 5 p.m. for all ages: $4/$6. 12219 Lois Lane in Betsey Warrington Park, Huntley. (847) 515-7665. huntleyparks.org.