A $5–$9 water-park day works only if you reserve the right session first
The Bay Aquatic Park is not a giant destination park where you buy a ticket at the gate and stay until closing. Broomfield runs it as a lower-cost, session-based outdoor aquatic park, and that one detail changes almost every part of the visit.
For 2026, the park has a rebuilt main pool, new slides, zero-depth entry, a toddler area and much better family space after its major renovation. The smart move is to reserve first, check the weather second, then plan your rides and pool time around the session you actually bought.
The Bay Water Park 2026: fast answer before you book
The Bay is at 250 Spader Way, Broomfield, CO 80020. In 2026, reserved admission is $5 for Broomfield residents age 4+ and $9 for non-residents age 4+. Children age 3 and younger are free with a paying adult, but they still need their own reservation.
Is The Bay a good fit for your family?
Best fit: toddlers through younger school-age kids
Broomfield’s own 2026 recreation guide describes The Bay as designed especially for families and children 13 and younger. Zero-depth entry, the toddler pool and sprayground make it easier to build a day around younger swimmers.
Still useful: mixed-age local families
Older children get body slides, race slides and the tube slide while younger siblings stay in shallower play areas. The park is compact enough that it is easier to coordinate than a 50-ride destination water park.
Probably not the best choice: thrill-only teens
If the entire group wants giant drop slides, wave pools and an all-day amusement-park scale experience, compare Water World in Federal Heights instead. The Bay’s strength is affordability and family convenience, not ride count.
The Bay Water Park tickets and 2026 prices
The Bay’s ticket system is unusually simple on price and unusually strict on reservations. There is no reason to hunt for a coupon before checking whether you already qualify for the Broomfield resident rate.
Broomfield resident • age 4+
$5 Reserved 2026 daily/session admission. A current Broomfield Resident Recreation ID must be linked to the account.Non-resident • age 4+
$9 Reserved admission. You do not need to live in Broomfield to visit.Age 3 and younger
Free Free with a paying adult age 18 or older. A reservation is still required for the child.Passholder
$0 session All Facility Pass admission is included, but a Bay session reservation is still required before entry.How the Broomfield resident discount actually works
Get the Resident Recreation ID
The resident rate is tied to a current Broomfield Resident Recreation ID, not simply to the ZIP code typed into a new online account.
Verify before ticket release
Resident IDs can be obtained at the Broomfield Community Center or Paul Derda Recreation Center and are valid for two years.
Then reserve in B-REx
New accounts can default to non-resident status until residency is verified. Fix that before buying if the discount matters to your family.
The Bay Water Park hours: think in sessions, not one opening time
The park’s 2026 operating season is Saturday, May 23 through Monday, September 7. During the main summer schedule, family swim is divided into blocks rather than one continuous all-day ticket.
First family-swim session shown on the 2026 summer schedule.
Second family-swim session. The facility clears between sessions for maintenance, cleaning and staff rotation.
Evening family swim appears on selected Monday, Wednesday and Friday dates during the main summer schedule.
Tickets open week by week
The Bay does not publish the entire season’s ticket inventory at once. Check again when your target week gets closer.
One session per day in post-summer
The current post-summer rules limit guests to a maximum of one session per day.
Everyone exits at session end
The pools and facility are cleared. Buying the morning session does not mean you can stay through the afternoon block.
The Bay Water Park rides, pools and new 2026 layout
The biggest reason old articles can mislead you is the renovation. The main aquatic area was rebuilt and The Bay reopened in July 2025 after the final phase of a roughly $10.4 million modernization project.
Two body slides
New and improved slides with a dedicated splashdown area.
Race slides
Side-by-side style racing fun built into the renovated leisure-pool area.
Family Otter slide
A family-oriented slide included in the recent renovation.
Inner tube slide
A tube-based slide option retained as part of the park’s family mix.
Leisure pool
The rebuilt main leisure area gives families more general swim space.
Zero-depth entry
Walk-in pool access is easier for younger swimmers and adults supervising them.
Interactive play structure
A modern water-play structure adds splash activity without requiring a big slide.
Waterfall
A water feature integrated into the leisure-pool experience.
Six lap lanes
The new main pool includes six 25-yard lap lanes for fitness and programming.
Toddler pool & sprayground
A separate younger-child area with slides and spray features.
The Bay Water Park reviews: useful feedback, with one big warning
68 reviews
Read the date before you trust the comment
Tripadvisor currently displays a 4.6/5 rating from 68 reviews. Historically, visitors often praised The Bay for being manageable with younger kids, relatively affordable and easier than a giant water park.
The catch is that many visible reviews were written before the 2025 renovation. Comments about the old pool layout, older slides or older operating procedures may no longer describe what you will find now.
What still seems useful from older visitor feedback?
Families like the smaller scale
Older reviews repeatedly liked being able to supervise younger children without walking across a huge amusement-park footprint. The current zero-depth layout still supports that use case.
Shade matters on a Colorado afternoon
Families have long mentioned shade and grassy or picnic space. The renovation added new shade structures and expanded deck space, which makes that old concern even easier to plan around.
Rules can surprise first-timers
Past complaints sometimes came from discovering flotation or pool rules at the facility. Read the current supervision and swimwear rules before packing rather than assuming another water park’s policy applies here.
The Bay Water Park photos: make sure you are looking at the renovated park
The official City and County of Broomfield pages now show the renovated aquatic park, including aerial views of the new main pool and colorful slide complex. These are more useful for 2026 planning than photos from the pre-2025 layout.
New main pool
Recent images should show the rebuilt leisure/lap pool with zero-depth entry and clearly separated lap lanes.
New slide colors and splashdown
The renovated area includes two new body slides, race slides and refreshed family water features.
Expanded deck & shade
Recent photos should show more deck space, new shade structures and the updated party areas.
The weather rule can matter more than the ticket price
Below 66°F all day
The Bay says it will not open when the outside temperature is forecast to remain below 66°F throughout the entire day.
Pool clears immediately
Lightning or severe weather in the immediate area causes the facility to clear. Reopening can occur 30 minutes after the last observed lightning if enough session time remains.
Re-entry if it reopens
When a weather closure occurs, guests may be marked for same-day re-entry during their session if the park reopens.
A small policy conflict worth knowing before you cancel
Different official Broomfield pages currently describe slightly different cancellation cutoffs. The main Bay page mentions canceling two hours before the session for account credit, the live ticket portal references a one-hour cutoff for eligible account purchases, and schedule documents have shown earlier same-day deadlines.
Rules that matter most with younger children
Age 6 and younger
A paying adult must be in the pool with the child and stay within arm’s reach. Watching from a deck chair is not enough.
Non-swimmers of any age
The same in-water, arm’s-reach rule applies to non-swimmers regardless of their age.
Ages 7–11 who swim independently
A parent or adult must remain present in the pool area even when the child can swim on their own.
Flotation does not replace an adult
A child wearing or needing a flotation device still requires an adult directly supervising in the water.
Age 3 and younger
Children 3 and younger must wear an approved swim diaper or tight-fitting plastic swim pants when needed. Regular diapers are not allowed in the pool.
Shower before entering
Broomfield’s current pool rules require swimmers to take a full head-and-body shower before entering the water.
Food, coolers, concessions and picnic planning
The Bay has concessions and picnic areas, and official rules say all bags and coolers are checked before entry. Food and drinks belong in designated areas rather than in the swimming pool.
Packed food can save money
Current reservation information allows personal food and beverages, but keep the meal in the permitted picnic/party area rather than eating beside or inside the water.
No glass or alcohol
Glass containers and alcoholic beverages are prohibited. Pack drinks and condiments in pool-safe containers.
Concessions are available
If you would rather not carry a cooler, food can be purchased at the park’s concession operation during available sessions.
The Bay Water Park party prices for 2026
Party reservations include admission for the reserved guest count and designated space for the session. These are not simple table rentals, so compare the package total with buying ordinary tickets separately.
Cabana
$105 / $210Resident / non-resident 2026 listed package price.
Shelter
$150 / $270Resident / non-resident listed price with four tables.
Pavilion
$260 / $430Resident / non-resident listed price with six tables.
Vail Party Deck
$300 / $470Resident / non-resident price for exclusive use of the rooftop deck during the reserved session.
The Bay Water Park careers and seasonal jobs
“The Bay Water Park careers” does not have a separate private-company hiring portal. The facility is operated by the City and County of Broomfield, so aquatic jobs appear through Broomfield’s municipal employment system.
Lifeguard / Lifeguard Instructor I–II
$16.05–$21.71/hrA 2026 continuous recruitment listed seasonal assignments that may include The Bay, Paul Derda Recreation Center and Broomfield Community Center.
Aquatic Park Worker
$15.16–$19.25/hrThe 2026 posting targeted eligible Broomfield residents or dependents of City employees ages 14–17. That specific recruitment closed, so do not use it as a current application link.
The Bay Water Park Broomfield address, phone and practical details
The Bay Aquatic Park
Address: 250 Spader Way, Broomfield, CO 80020
Phone: 303-464-5520
Party / group questions: 303-464-5509, option 4
Party email: baygroup@broomfield.org
How to plan a Bay Aquatic Park visit without wasting the session
Set up B-REx before tickets release
Create the family account in advance. If you live in Broomfield, make sure residency is verified rather than discovering a non-resident price at checkout.
Open the schedule for your exact week
Do not search only “The Bay Water Park hours.” Find the current family-swim session because post-summer hours can be very different from June and July.
Add every guest to the reservation
Include infants and toddlers even when their admission price is free. Capacity management is based on people, not only paid tickets.
Check the forecast before the safest cancellation window
If the day looks cold or stormy, decide early. A forecast below the park’s 66°F threshold or repeated lightning can eliminate a large part of a short session.
Pack around the youngest swimmer
Bring swim diapers when needed, appropriate swimwear, sunscreen, water and a food plan. Make sure you have enough adults for children who need in-water supervision.
Check alerts immediately before driving
Weather, maintenance, fecal incidents, emergencies and staffing can affect pool capacity or operation. The official alert page is more useful than yesterday’s Google business hours.
How to use a 3.5-hour family-swim session better
Check in and choose a base
Get through ticket verification and bag inspection, then pick your shade/picnic home base before children scatter toward different pools.
Do the priority slides
If body slides or race slides matter most, tackle them before the group gets hungry or younger children need a break.
Use the family zones
Rotate through the leisure pool, interactive play area and toddler zone rather than spending the full session standing in one slide line.
Stop starting long activities
Gather belongings, use the restroom and finish with a nearby play feature. The park clears at session end, so there is no advantage to being stuck far from your bags.
Official sources to use before reserving The Bay
The prices and rules above are built from current City and County of Broomfield information, but ticket inventory, pool schedules, closures and jobs can change during the season. Use these links for the final action.
The Bay Water Park Broomfield FAQs
How much are The Bay Water Park tickets in Broomfield in 2026?
Broomfield residents age 4 and older pay $5 for a reserved session. Non-residents age 4 and older pay $9. Children age 3 and younger are free with a paying adult age 18 or older, but every guest still needs a ticket reservation.
Do you need tickets in advance for The Bay Aquatic Park?
Yes. The Bay requires pre-purchased session tickets through B-REx. Tickets are released week by week, and the park uses reservations to manage capacity and wait times.
What are The Bay Water Park hours in 2026?
The 2026 season runs May 23 through September 7. Main-summer family swim is generally divided into 10 a.m.–1:30 p.m. and 2–5:30 p.m. sessions, with selected evening sessions. A reduced post-summer schedule begins in August, so check your exact week before visiting.
What rides does The Bay Water Park have?
The renovated facility includes two body slides, race slides, an inner tube slide, a family Otter slide, a new leisure pool, zero-depth entry, interactive water play, a waterfall, six 25-yard lap lanes and a separate toddler pool with slides and sprayground.
Is The Bay Aquatic Park good for young children?
Yes. Broomfield’s 2026 recreation guide describes The Bay as designed especially for families and children 13 and younger. The zero-depth leisure pool, toddler pool and sprayground are especially useful for families with younger swimmers.
What happens at The Bay if there is lightning?
The pools are cleared when lightning or severe weather is in the immediate area. The facility may reopen 30 minutes after the last observed lightning if enough session time remains. Weather refunds and rain checks are generally not offered.
Can I bring food or a cooler to The Bay Aquatic Park?
The Bay has concessions and picnic areas. Current rules require bags and coolers to be inspected, restrict food and drink to designated areas, and prohibit glass and alcohol. Check the current facility rules before bringing a large cooler or party meal.
Where is The Bay Water Park in Broomfield?
The Bay Aquatic Park is at 250 Spader Way, Broomfield, CO 80020. The official facility phone number is 303-464-5520.
Does The Bay Water Park offer birthday parties?
Yes. Current 2026 listings include cabanas for groups up to 15, shelters for up to 25, pavilions for up to 50 and the renovated Vail Party Deck for up to 50. Prices differ for residents and non-residents, and reservations should generally be made at least seven days ahead.
How do I apply for a job at The Bay Water Park?
The Bay is operated by the City and County of Broomfield. Seasonal lifeguard, aquatic park and recreation positions are posted through the official Broomfield employment system. Search the current municipal job listings because older seasonal postings can remain visible after their application deadline.