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What is the difference between a splash pad and a spray park?
Quick answer
Splash pad and spray park are the same thing in everyday US English. Industry sources use both interchangeably, with 'spray park' slightly more common in the Pacific Northwest and Canada and 'splash pad' dominant elsewhere. Both refer to a zero-depth water-play area with ground jets and features.
There's no formal industry distinction between 'splash pad' and 'spray park' — both terms describe a zero-depth water-play surface with ground-mounted jets, dump buckets, and themed features. Manufacturers like Vortex and Waterplay use the terms interchangeably in their catalogs. Regionally, 'spray park' has slightly higher use in Seattle, Portland, Vancouver BC, and across Canada. 'Splash pad' dominates in the US South, Midwest, and Northeast. New York City Parks officially uses 'spray shower' for older single-jet installations and 'spray ground' (or 'sprayground') for full pads. 'Water playground' is the marketing term most commonly used at zoos, museums, and resorts to convey the larger themed experience. When searching for one in a new city, try all four — splash pad, spray park, spray ground, water playground — to maximize hits.