Carl Gene Young Sr. Park
Sprayground at Carl Gene Young Sr. Park- City of Denton
Denton’s First Sprayground - 327 S. Wood St.
Park Highlights
Sprayground (expanded in 2024)
Playground
Sports facilities
Picnic tables and benches
Restrooms and drinking fountain
About the Park
Carl Gene Young Sr. Park is a neighborhood park offering a mix of recreation, play, and community gathering spaces. The park features a walking trail, playground, sports areas, and Denton’s first sprayground, making it a popular destination for families year-round.
The park was previously known as Phoenix Park and was later renamed in honor of Carl Gene Young Sr., a Vietnam War veteran, community activist, and former Denton City Council member.
Sprayground Expansion (Completed May 2024)
The park’s sprayground—formerly known as the Carl Young Jr. Splash Pad—was significantly expanded and upgraded in 2024.
The renovation increased the sprayground from 1,200 square feet to 2,500 square feet and introduced new interactive water features, including:
5 vertical spray elements
11 in-ground sprayers
Expanded splash zone for increased capacity and play variety
This project was the result of a long-term, community-driven planning effort that began in 2014, with public feedback collected since December 2022 to help guide the final design. Funding was provided through park development fees and the American Rescue Plan Act.
The upgraded sprayground reopened in May 2024, just in time for the summer season.
Park Experience
This park offers a well-balanced mix of active play and relaxed outdoor use. Visitors can walk the trail, enjoy the playground, or participate in sports activities, while the expanded sprayground provides a major seasonal attraction for families during warmer months.
The recent upgrades make the park more engaging, accessible, and better equipped to handle high seasonal use.
Support the Parks
Make a tax-deductible donation to help add beauty, functionality, and recreational activities to our parks, benefiting the entire community with a lasting impact on everyone.
DPF’s Impact in the Park
Denton Community Splashpark
This exciting, community-led, grassroots project was a partnership between committed local volunteers, the City of Denton, and the Denton Parks Foundation with broad support from Denton City Council, the Parks & Recreation Department, countless local businesses, and thousands of citizens who voted in support of the project. The idea began in the summer of 2013, and after 5 years of hard work, the Denton Community Splashpark opened in May 2018.
The sprayground is an area of water play that has no standing water, making it much less expensive to operate than a swimming pool as there is no need to hire lifeguards or other staff persons. It features spray jets, water cannons, and dumping buckets among other attractions. Open longer during the day than our municipal pools, it’s possible to play outside when the morning and evening temps are slightly cooler. Because North Texas is hot from April-October, toddlers and homeschooled kids have a place to cool off when school is still in session. The sprayground is located in Carl Gene Young, Sr. Park (a public park and not a shopping center or gated community), it is free and accessible to the people of Denton at every economic level and physical ability.
Visiting the Park
Address
Carl Gene Young Sr. Park
327 S. Wood St.
Denton, TX 76201