Artesani Playground and Pool

I took my kids to Artesani for the first time today. I was very happy with the free, easy parking. The playgrounds and wading pool are very nice. I have a four year old and a fifteen year old, and the wading pool was something they both enjoyed because he liked getting drenched in the waterfalls and she liked the feeling of being able to «swim». We brought a picnic lunch and ate it by the river. It was relaxing and cool to see all the kayaks, canoes, and paddle boarders go by. There were lots of ducks. The bathrooms were clean and not crowded and there was an ice cream truck.
My only complaint was that when we left the wading pool to play on the playgrounds for a little while, and then tried to come back, we had to wait in a long line for twenty minutes. We learned that they didn’t have enough lifeguards and so couldn’t let over a certain number of kids in the pool at once. We waited in the burning sun for twenty minutes for our turn to go back in, while other people said they had been in that line for more than half and hour.
If you go to this park, DO NOT leave the wading pool area unless you are ready to leave it for good, because you may not get back in.

This is a very nice MDC park right on the Charles River with lots of free parking. We went during the week and recommend going in the mid-​afternoon after the visiting campers are gone. We went two days in a row and there was an ice cream truck parked rather discreetly off to the side of the parking lot both days. There are bathrooms, a water fountain/​bubbler and playground equipment.
The first day, my kids had a playdate at the sprinkle park section. It was clean and not too busy. There was a nice group of kids and parents. It’s not a very big area and there are a few benches, but not much shade. However, it is NOT fenced in. My little one tries to wander and with the Charles River on one side and cars racing down Soldiers Field Road on the other, I spent our entire visit in a bit of a panic. My 7 year old spent 2 hours playing and had fun even though it’s made for small children. Bring buckets or cups for kids to catch the water, but expect other kids will periodically run off with them.
The second day, I took my oldest to the pool, which is fenced in. The first day we had checked it out and a very rude staff membered barked at us that we needed to shower first. The second day, my son showered next to the bathrooms, but the shower police were not on duty this day and this was clealy not enforced. There were lots of benches, which at times would fill, then empty, but very little shade. There are two zero depth entrances and it’s maybe two feet deep. There is water cascading down from three metal structures in the center. It was deep enough for my little fish to practice swimming under water.
There was a nice crowd and there were no rowdy kids. Parents can go in the pool, too.
There were two lifeguards, but they were not very attentive. One very small boy went under and his mother ran in to save him, but neither lifeguard noticed. They periodically get everyone out of the pool, shut down the water and clean leaves and such out of the pool. The lifeguards did enforce this, but their demeanor personifies the «resting b$&#hface» meme that is far removed from the usual eagle-​eye-​all-​business stance lifeguards do (and should!) have. However, there was a young female MDC employee that did perimeter checks of the pool and ran a net through the water who smiled and interacted with people. This area of the park is well-​staffed.
Overall, a great (free!) place to take the kids on a hot day, just be mindful of the safety issues that come with the location and remember that even though it’s not very deep, it’s still a pool.

This is a really pretty park right off Soldier’s Field Road. Not only are there a couple different trails, there’s a great route for running a 5K. I just did a race over here and it was quite pretty!

This is hands down the best kiddie pool I’ve been to in the area. It’s clean with plenty of benches and is a toddler paradise.
There’s a spray feature in the middle for kids who like to go in sprinklers, and a giant wading pool surrounding it to just splash around. The zero depth entry was also much appreciated, since I didn’t have to worry about my daughter getting hurt on her way in or out of the pool.
The only downside is that there’s no real shade, so be sure to bring plenty of sunblock.

This Happy little pool is appropriate for kids 6 and under. It is zero depth to about 2 feet deep. There are 4 spray water features, 2 lifeguards on duty and shady benches for parents to sit down.

Very nice and clean park. The 20^th annual Lupus walk was hosted here on Sunday 9÷8÷2013. Great place for the kids & dogs to run around and for cookouts and large groups for picnics and gatherings.
Plenty of parking.

My toddler had a great time and so did my 8 yo. We plan on going back before the summer ends.

Update from July 31^st 2011.
Pump was broken (according to the staff, «broken for a few weeks» and «the part is on order»). Typical DCR.
The sprayers were working on just water pressure, so cold water and just being dumped down the drain. No pool water but otherwise open.
I’m not optimistic about it being fixed for 2011, but welcome any updates.
Would be great if it were fully working.
Oh and when the sprayers are on, they shut down the bathrooms (no water pressure). They turned them off for 5 minutes per hour to re-​open bathrooms and allow their use, then re-​locked them when the sprayers started back up.

Best spray park and wading pool I’ve found this summer. Perfect for the little babies who can’t quite, I don’t know… Survive in a regular sized pool? There are a few spray decks, and then a couple sloped ramps to crawl down into the shallow (1 foot) water. Lifeguards are on duty, parents on high alert, and kids elevated to extreme happiness levels.
I’m going here every day until it’s closed for the season.

This place is idyllic. It’s a playground and wading pool right on the Charles River. I brought the toddler I care for to play there – the wading pool was closed unfortunately, must be because it is September. But, the playground equipment was great and then I took him for a stroll along the Charles River Bike Path, stopping to admire the ducks and the boats on the water, check out the kayaking center and peer into the beautiful community garden. There are benches and picnic tables nearby and plenty of portapotties. You can get here by bus – it’s near the 86 busline (get off at Western and Everett and walk over to Soldier’s Field Road.) It is so worth the trip.
—update. We finally got to try the pool. It is so awesome! Cold, clean water. A little too cold for June but it’s going to feel so great in July. And they have public restrooms you can change in.

On a hot day, this is a great place to take your toddler or young child to cool off. Artesani Park is a cute little park, located off of Soldier’s Field Road. Situated right next to the Charles, it is one among a string of parks and outdoor attractions on the Cambridge/​Brighton border.
The city did a good job with this place, and there are two fenced-​in climbing structures and plenty of park benches. Has a separate building with men’s and women’s facilities. The park is pretty well-​kept and decently clean considering the number of people who go through there.
But the main attraction is the wading pool, which is perfect for kids ages 1 – 6. You must shower on the side of the bathroom buillding BEFORE entering the fenced-​in water area. The pool is a decent size and shaped a bit like an oblong clover with two «beaches» on either side, where the water gets gradually deeper starting from zero inches. The center of the pool has four L-​shaped water pipes with various ways to spray water: a waterfall, in streams, as mist, and fourth one was not working when I went.
I think the full depth of the pool is about a foot, and there are several lifeguards on duty just in case. There are park benches around the fence. There are lot and lots of people here, and the water does get kind of murky. They closed for an hour for mid-​afternoon cleaning at 4PM when we went. There is also a small oval with three water sprays.
As a parent, I’d recommend:
— Wear your suit, because there is a lot of splashing.
— Pack your own drinks and snacks, unless you want to buy ice cream from the truck that’s parked there.
— Bring a folding chair if you must sit down
How to find it: While heading south on Soldier’s Field, turn off of Soldier’s Field into the large parking lot RIGHT AFTER the exit for the left-​hand turn. It is the far end of the lot, opposite the outdoor theater and the greenhouse there.

Little Sister: I want to go swimming when we meet each other again.
Me: * thinking — ewww public pools gross, why does Amy my Best Friend EVA live fucking 35 miles away * OK Honey, let me see what I can find. It’s going to be a nice day so we should find something outside.
Two days later:
Roni: Blah blah blah *shovel in food from Shabu Zen* blah blah yeah gurl, I’m not liking Saki *WHAT?!!* blah blah OMG you should take her to the Spray Parks — give Babara Ann a call
Me: Blah blah blah * shoveling food in mouth* blah blah blah hotness in Belize blah blah blah seriously gurl? That sounds awesome blah blah blah * reaching over table to grab Roni’s Saki cause t can’t go to waste*
Two days later:
Barbara Ann: Yes it’s cool, she’ll love it! *And Babara Ann should know cause she has 2 little mini’s that lurve the water*
Me: Done
Saturday 80 degrees…30 minutes from Malden… typical wading pool, but enhanced since I last frequented one. Now they have industrial strength sprinklers inside the pool. I felt a bit awkward, it’s mainly Mom’s and Dad’s around as I rip the t and shorts off the reveal my bikini. Hey Rock what ya Mama gave ya right? Would I go again? Ummmmmmmm to be debated for me. I think I’d consider tempting my Best Friend and her Husband with a gallon of Tanqueray first so I can take pleasure in their quiet, clean pool.
It’s seriously is nice, but it is what it is. A crowded public pool with lots of little kids. It’s clean for the most part we had a 30 minute intermission to clean something? Hmmm. But it’s free, parking free and the rest of the park is really quite lovely.
If you are OK with overly crowded, go. If you are not — opt for biking the nice paths along the river they have. As if you are any where close to my level of patience, you’ll probably crack after an hour.
At the end of the day Barbara Ann was right. My little loved it. I mean really the day wasn’t about me anyway.

It’s funny, when I was a kid I had a fear of this park, because the play structures in the water area were made of the sharpest, hardest concrete material the city could source.
Now, as a mom, I have one serious issue with this water park, and while I’m sure it was a freak occurrence that I was just unfortunate to witness, it has put me off too much to tempt me to allow my kids back into that water. *
While very crowded, the playground is OK, but the edge of the river is one of the grubbiest places I have seen– between the discarded bottles, and condoms and the goose poo, I would rather not have them playing down there either.
I think I’ll keep observing from a distance and let my kids run in the fountain at (the MUCH cleaner) Dana Park
*what was found in the water, and subsequently caused the staff to close the fountain for ‘cleaning’, was way too gross to mention here, but I’ll tell you if you really feel that you need to know.

Some friends and I met up here for a cookout and had a great time. The park was well maintained, had plenty of trash cans available and is right on the Charles River. There are also bathroom facilities near the playgrounds, which is great.
They say you can’t use charcoal grills there but just about everyone was doing so and no one was complaining.
If you do plan an event here be warned that the parking lot seemed to fill up at around 2:30 or so.

I came to Artesani Park upon the recommendation of scores of parents but had never quite been able to find it, as it was located in the no-man’s-land of twisting highways and sudden roundabouts on the far side of Cambridge. It was worth the internet investigation to get the proper name and location of the park (though I never did get a prescise address, though it can’t be missed while driving by), just in time for some of the hottest weather of 2007. In addition to the TWO full-​fenced play structures fit to please most any kid, the park boasts an amazing wading pool. But calling it a simple wading pool does not do the place juctice, really. It is a water-​wonder-​world for any kid under 12. The water is crystal-​clear, the lifeguards are overly plentiful and almost annoyingly attentive, and while splashing in the cool water one can enjoy a view of the Charles. But let me tell you more. There is an awesome overhead piping system that creates several waterfalls, a system of water arch-​ways to delight the eyes of parents watching or wading, and a shimmering curtain of water that created an hour of fun for my four-​year old boy, who peeped and ran through it over and over again. Older kids can also enjoy that the center of the pool has just enough depth to allow for some actual swimming, if only for a few strokes. The pool is fully encircled by benches, so parents can bring work or reading and always find a shady spot. This is clearly going to be one of our regular summer spots this year. It’s free (though I would gladly pay to get in), clean, and the series of waterfalls are interactive (kids can invent games based on the system of falling water!), refreshing (the water is COLD), and fun to watch. The kids will all have a good time. You might even get a sullen teenager to crack a smile and take the plunge.