Summer in Short Pump 2027: camps, pools and spray parks

Last checked Oct. 19, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. Summer 2027 schedules are not out yet; 2026 dates are labeled. Sources: Henrico Recreation and Parks’ park tips and park pages for Short Pump Park and Twin Hickory Park, the county’s Free for All announcement, Henrico 4-H’s 2026 camp notices and the HCPS 2026-27 calendar.

Henrico County Public Schools let out on Friday, June 4, 2027. Short Pump’s summer runs on Henrico County’s parks and libraries: two spray parks within a few minutes of West Broad Street, free county programs and library reading challenges. Henrico County’s parks have no swimming areas, so pool time means a neighborhood pool or swim club. Henrico Recreation and Parks is 804-501-7275.

Summer 2027 key dates

• May: county spray parks reopen (exact date set each spring)
• Monday, May 31: Memorial Day
• Friday, June 4: last day of school, half day
• June: library Summer Reading Challenge begins (June 1 in 2026)

Spray parks

The county’s park tips list five spray parks. Two are close to Short Pump:

Both are closed for the season now and reopen in May, with the exact date to be announced. The others are at Dorey Park, Dunncroft/Castle Point Park and Eastern Henrico Recreation Center, all in eastern Henrico.

Twin Hickory’s spray park is a zero-depth water play area meant for children 12 and under, with adult supervision, the county says, and the pavement around the playground gets very hot on sunny days, so wear shoes. Children must be supervised at all times, and food, pets, bikes and skates stay out of the splash area. Both parks have playgrounds, restrooms and picnic shelters; Short Pump Park also has a dog park.

Pools

Henrico County does not run public outdoor pools; its park tips say the parks have no swimming areas. In Short Pump, swimming is at:

• Neighborhood and HOA pools, which set their own opening dates; ask your HOA.
• Private swim clubs and fitness centers, which sell memberships directly.

Henrico’s environmental health office keeps a pool and spa safety page and a pool complaint form.

Henrico Recreation and Parks held Splash Smart Henrico, a water safety event, on Saturday, July 18, 2026.

Camps

Private camps take registration directly. County options in 2026 included:

• Henrico Junior 4-H Camp, a residential camp for ages 9 to 13 at the Jamestown 4-H Educational Center near Williamsburg, July 27-31, 2026. Registration opened March 18 through Virginia Cooperative Extension; transportation is not provided. 804-501-5160.
• Sprout and Grow: Cultivating Curiosity, a four-day 4-H day camp for rising fourth through eighth graders, 8 a.m. to noon July 13-16, 2026, at Fairfield Middle School in eastern Henrico.
• HCPS Summer Academy ran June 8 to July 16, 2026, at select schools, according to the district calendar.

Henrico Recreation and Parks lists its summer classes in its seasonal program guide and on its registration site; registration opens at 7 a.m. on the first day of each season, online and at Deep Run Recreation Center, 9900 Ridgefield Parkway.

Free summer programs

Under its Free for All campaign, the county runs no-cost library and recreation programs through August. In 2026 that meant:

• The library’s Summer Reading Challenge, starting June 1, with a dinosaur theme, spelling bees and animal shows for ages 7 to 14.
• Weekly story times at the branches, including Twin Hickory Area Library, 5001 Twin Hickory Road.
• Recreation and Parks events with free admission and free parking, including the Juneteenth and Independence Day celebrations.
• Cooking, crafts, music and fitness classes, with materials provided.

Fourth of July plans are on our fireworks page.

What this means for you

Watch the county’s park pages in April for the spray park opening date, sign up for camps early in the spring, and register for the library’s reading challenge in June. Our kids’ activities guide has year-round ideas.

Frequently asked questions

When do the spray parks open in Short Pump?

Henrico County’s spray parks, including Short Pump Park and Twin Hickory Park, reopen in May, with the exact date set each spring. In season they run 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.

Is there a public pool in Short Pump?

No. Henrico County’s parks have no swimming areas, the county says. Swimming in Short Pump is at neighborhood and HOA pools, private swim clubs and fitness centers.

When does school let out in Henrico County in 2027?

The last day for Henrico County Public Schools students is Friday, June 4, 2027, a half day, under the HCPS 2026-27 calendar.

Are there free summer programs for kids in Henrico County?

Yes. Henrico’s libraries and Recreation and Parks run free summer programs under the county’s Free for All campaign, and the library’s Summer Reading Challenge started June 1 in 2026.