Summer is right around the corner and for those looking to spend time outdoors this summer, local parks and recreation departments have outdoor fun planned to keep people outside and hydrated.

Splash pads in Sherman, Denison and Van Alstyne are a free option. Sherman’s sprayground at Hawn Park, 900 S. Dewey, is open to the public each day from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Denison’s splash pads at THF Park, 3801 US 75, and Forest Park, 300 W. Crawford, are open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day. Over in Van Alstyne, the splash pad at Central Social District, 215 E. Van Alstyne Parkway, is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

While snow cone stands can be found in each city, local parks and rec departments have some special outdoor sweet treat events planned starting this month.

Van Alstyne will have its Snow Cone Social Thursday from 5:30-7 p.m. at Central Social District. The first 250 people will get a free snow cone. Then each Tuesday in July, “Popsicles in the park” will be held from 5-6 p.m. at Central Social District.

Sherman’s “Popsicles in the Park” will be held June 7 at Fairview Park, July 12 at Center Street Park and Aug. 2 at Hawn Park. All events will be held from 6- 8 p.m.

Denison’s Ice Cream Social will be held from 6-7:30 p.m. Thursday at THF Park. “Popsicles in the Park” will be held July 18 at Waterloo Park.

Here are three public pools available for a dive in.

1. The Splash

The Sherman pool located inside Fairview Park will see its first guests this week. The pool has special hours Thursday and Friday from 2-6 p.m. The pool will open for its regular hours starting Saturday.

The pool is open from noon to 6 p.m. through the summer. Hours are extended by two hours Friday evenings. Fridays the pool will close at 8 p.m.

Located at 1121 W Taylor St in Sherman, the Splash is equipped with two 2-story water slides, a drop slide, a diving board, a 1,200-foot current channel, and a tot zone complete with a slide, tumble buckets, and spray features.

Admission is $5 for children 3-15 and $6 for 16 years and older. Children under the age of three are free with a paying adult. Season passes and punch cards are available for $100 for an individual and $140 for the first two family members and then $30 for each additional family member for Sherman residents. Non-resident season passes are $120 for an individual and $180 for first two family members and $30 for each additional family member.

Punch cards are $40 for Sherman residents and $50 for nonresidents and cover ten visits.

2. Waterloo

Denison’s Waterloo Pool is open year around but starts its summer hours this weekend. Located at 1501 W Brock Street in Denison, the pool is indoors and offers swim classes as well as aqua exercise classes and public swim times.

The cost for children under 2 is free with a paid adult. The pool is $4 for resident adults and $5 for non-residents. Children, 2 to 15 years old are $3. Recreational swim times for the summer are 1-4 p.m. Monday through Friday, and Saturday and Sunday. The pool is also open for recreational swim from 7-9 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Waterloo also offers lap swim from 5:30-8:30 a.m. and 10-11:30 a.m. on Monday through Thursday and 5:30-11.30 a.m. on Friday. There are also fitness classes and swim team events held at the pool. For more information see Denison.recdesk.com or call 903-464-4475.

Denison also has two splash pads. They are located at Forest Park, 300 W Crawford St, and Texoma Health Foundation Park, 3801 S US Highway 75. The splash pads are free to the public.

3. Whitesboro pool

Whitesboro’s pool, 400 Wilson Street, at the Jimmie O. Rector Center will host its free Splash Day from 1-6 p.m. Saturday.

Then it will be open from 1-6 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Tuesdays from 6-8 p.m., they have family only swim time. Wednesdays the pool is open from 2-6 p.m. and Sundays it is open from 1-5 p.m.

Admission to the Whitesboro pool is free for those age 2 and younger. Ages 3 and older will cost $2.

Individual and family passes may be purchased by Whitesboro residents and non-residents. Individual passes will cost $50 for residents and $75 for non-residents. Family passes will cost $100 for residents and $150 for non-residents. Family passes are for four people in the same household, additional household members will be an additional $10 each.