How do splash pad prices change year over year?

Year-over-year splash pad pricing follows three patterns. First, routine inflation: most municipal aquatics raise admission $0.25-$1 per year to track utility costs, chemical prices, and seasonal-staff wage increases — roughly 3-7% annually. Second, post-renovation jumps: when a city replaces filtration, adds new features, or rebuilds the deck, admission often steps up 15-25% in the next season to recover capital costs. Third, regulation-driven increases: new state health codes around chlorination, water testing, or mandatory attendant training can add $1-$3 to admission overnight. Free municipal pads almost never start charging once they've been free, because the political cost of introducing fees is high. However, ancillary fees — pavilion rentals, locker fees, party packages — drift up 5-10% per year and rarely come back down.