Things to do with kids in Clarksville: city playgrounds, four free splash pads, library story times, the Wade Bourne Nature Center and indoor play.
Last checked Oct. 17, 2026. Facts on this page come from Clarksville Parks and Recreation’s park pages and aquatics page, Montgomery County Parks and Recreation’s Rotary Park page, the public library, the Customs House Museum and each business linked below.
Clarksville has dozens of free city parks with playgrounds, four free splash pads in summer, a nature center with live animals at Rotary Park and a busy children’s program at the public library. City parks are open dawn to dusk; pets are not allowed on playgrounds. City parks: 931-645-7476. County parks and the nature center: 931-648-5732.
What this means for you
- Best all-in-one park: Heritage Park (playground, splash pad, skate park, dog park, Greenway trailhead).
- Accessible playground: McGregor Park downtown, on the riverwalk.
- Rainy day: the library, the Customs House Museum or an indoor play gym.
- Summer: splash pads are free; see our summer camps and pools page.
Playgrounds and parks
| Park | Address | For kids |
|---|---|---|
| McGregor Park | 640 N. Riverside Drive | ADA-accessible playground, 1-mile riverwalk, river museum |
| Liberty Park | 1188 Cumberland Drive | Community-built playground, fishing pond, walking trail |
| Heritage Park | 1241 Peachers Mill Road | Playground, splash pad, skate park, bike and walking trails |
| Edith Pettus Park | 345 Farris Drive | Multi-feature splash pad, playground, basketball |
| Valleybrook Park | 213 Crossland Ave. | Playground with rope climbing, creek bridge, quarter-mile trail |
| Billy Dunlop Park | 1930 E. Boy Scout Road | 30 acres, playground, fishing and canoe access |
| Barbara E. Johnson Park | 240 Outlaw Field Road | Playground, walking trail, sand volleyball |
| Bel-Aire Park | 124 Marie Drive | Playground, half-mile trail |
| Swan Lake Sports Complex | 2002 Sanders Road | Playground, pool in summer |
Every park above is from the city’s park pages, which list pavilions you can reserve for birthday parties.
Splash pads
The city’s four splash pads are free and were open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily from May 18 to Sept. 6 in 2026 (aquatics page):
- Dixon Park, 117 S. 10th St. (also has an amphitheater and restrooms)
- Edith Pettus Park, 345 Farris Drive
- Heritage Park, 1241 Peachers Mill Road
- Lettie Kendall Park, 300 A St.
Nature and animals
- Wade Bourne Nature Center at Rotary Park, 2308 Rotary Park Drive: Montgomery County’s nature center runs programs from guided hikes to live animal shows, and Rotary Park has eight trails, two playgrounds, a creek and a wildlife observation deck. Programs are listed on the county’s events page; some need registration.
- Dunbar Cave State Park, 401 Old Dunbar Cave Road: cave tours May through September for ages 5 and up, and a virtual cave tour in the visitor center all year (Tennessee State Parks).
- Fort Defiance Civil War Park, 120 Duncan St.: free, with a walking trail and exhibits on a bluff above the Red and Cumberland rivers.
Story times and indoor fun
- Clarksville-Montgomery County Public Library, 350 Pageant Lane: Story Time with songs and activities, Bilingual Story Time in Spanish and English, and a reading challenge for young children and their caregivers (children’s programs). Open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday.
- Customs House Museum and Cultural Center, 200 S. Second St.: Family Art Saturdays for ages 3 and up with an adult, and Fifth Saturday Donation Days (calendar).
- We Rock the Spectrum Kids’ Gym, 549 Neptune Drive, Suites E-H: an indoor sensory gym with open play, classes and parties; it asks families to call 931-266-0077 for daily hours (gym site).
Seasonal favorites
- Fall: pumpkin patches and the Rotary Park Fall Festival, on our fall festivals page, and Halloween events.
- Winter: holiday lights and Christmas events.
- Spring: egg hunts and free spring break programs.
- Summer: the city’s Summer Youth Program and free Tuesday nights; see summer camps and pools.
More: free things to do, walking and biking trails and schools.
Frequently asked questions
What is there to do with kids in Clarksville, Tennessee?
Free options include city playgrounds such as McGregor Park’s accessible playground and Liberty Park’s community-built playground, four splash pads in summer, library story times and the Wade Bourne Nature Center at Rotary Park.
Where are the splash pads in Clarksville?
At Dixon Park, 117 S. 10th St.; Edith Pettus Park, 345 Farris Drive; Heritage Park, 1241 Peachers Mill Road; and Lettie Kendall Park, 300 A St. They are free and were open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily from May 18 to Sept. 6 in 2026.
Where can kids play indoors in Clarksville?
The public library at 350 Pageant Lane has story times and children’s programs, the Customs House Museum has Family Art Saturdays, and We Rock the Spectrum at 549 Neptune Drive is an indoor kids’ gym with open play.
Does the Clarksville library have story time?
Yes. The Clarksville-Montgomery County Public Library offers Story Time and a Bilingual Story Time in Spanish and English, plus a reading challenge for young children. Times are on the library’s events calendar.
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