Jerusalem does not need a water slide this summer to feel like an obstacle course. A road closure seems to wait around almost every corner, construction crews occupy major junctions, and a short family drive can quickly turn into a journey through traffic jams, dust, tractors and freshly excavated streets. Against this backdrop, the municipality is offering residents a new attraction: instead of getting stuck between trenches and infrastructure works, families can at least try to reach the water at Arena PARK, inside the Pais Arena in Malha.
What can visitors expect at Arena PARK in Jerusalem?
The adventure water park covers approximately 4,000 square meters and is divided into two main areas. The outdoor section features giant inflatable water slides, including installations reaching heights of up to 15 meters. Inside the arena, a covered area offers challenging attractions positioned above pools, designed mainly for children and teenagers.
The park will operate until August 28. Opening hours are from 10:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Fridays. A regular ticket costs NIS 99, while holders of the Jerusalem resident card will pay NIS 69. A café and food trucks offering different types of food will also operate at the site.
How do you reach a water park in a city that looks like one giant construction zone?
That may be the most important question of all. Arena PARK could provide a welcome option for families looking for a wet summer activity, but first they must reach it through a Jerusalem struggling to breathe. With major projects, road closures and constantly changing traffic arrangements across the city, visitors may need to calculate not only the time spent on the slides, but also the time spent crawling toward the Malha Sports Complex.
Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion presented the attraction as part of the city’s expanding summer entertainment program. “Arena PARK joins the city’s developing sports complex and offers Jerusalem residents and visitors a refreshing, enjoyable and accessible experience during the hot summer days,” he stated.
What other attractions are available at Jerusalem’s Sports Complex?
The Ice Box skating rink, which opened in early July, operates next to the water park. Visitors can also purchase a combined ticket for both attractions and move from water to ice within minutes, assuming the journey to Malha has not already consumed the rest of their day.
Ariel Company CEO Uri Menachem noted that the combination creates “a complete entertainment complex” for families, featuring “plenty of water, ice and experiences.” In a Jerusalem that is excavated, dusty and gridlocked, at least one corner promises a summer that is wet on purpose.
