With the snip of a bright red ribbon at high noon on a perfect summer day, the fun got underway at Branford’s new splash pad at Foote Memorial Park on July 31.

Campers with Branford Parks and Recreation’s summer program at Foote Park were the first to try out the splash pad, the first to be installed at a Town park. The current “soft opening” splash pad hours of operation are noon to 6 p.m. through Friday, Aug.11, during which time camp use will have priority during weekdays, said Alex Palluzzi Jr., Branford Parks and Recreation Director.

Beginning Saturday, Aug. 12, the camp hours will be 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., with plans to keep the pad open through Sunday, Sept. 17.

Tavella Design Group’s (Orange) design of the splash pad incorporates collaborative input taken into consideration during a planning process that included community members. Features of the water-driven playscape include interactive elements and transitions which are designed to accommodate toddlers to teens. Rain gardens have been situated as part of the landscape design.

Work by Branford Public Works and Parks and Recreation personnel to prepare the site began April 25, with initial elements starting to go into place during the week of July 17. The $350,000 town of Branford capital project received funding from a $175,000 matching grant from the Foote Memorial

Trust.

On July 31, Branford Board of Recreation chairman Paul Criscuolo, Branford First Selectman Jamie Cosgrove, and Palluzzi gave remarks and thanked Foote Park Trust representative Janneth Archury and the trust for the support of the $175,000 grant, as well as Branford’s Board of Finance, Representative Town Meeting members, and Finance Director Jim Finch and his team for making the $175,000 capital matching grant opportunity available.

Thanks were also shared with Splash Pad committee members Marta Kenney (with input inspired by daughter Caroline), Jean Crowley (Board of Recreation), and Dale Izzo (Parks and Recreation assistant director). In addition, thanks were given to Branford Recreation Board members as well as Parks and Rec leadership and maintainer staff, led by Butch Cote; Public Works supervisor Gary Zielinksi and Public Works crew members; Town Engineer John Hoefferle and Assistant Town Engineer Jennifer Acquino; the Building Department’s Anthony Cinacola and Don Bonyai, Treasurer Deborah Conklin, and Executive Assistant to the Selectman’s Office, Trista Milici.

The opening event also shared the town of Branford’s appreciation for the work of splash pad architect Tom Tavella, Brian Iofolla, and Megan O’Brien of O’Brien and Sons outdoor recreational equipment supplies, and Matt Ferucci of Concrete Creations and his team.

Branford Parks and Recreation Commission member Bill O’Brien captured the event in photos, including the ribbon cutting, where officials were joined by Branford resident and splash pad committee member Kenney and her one-year-old daughter.

O’Brien said Kenney’s contributions to splash pad planning as a community member “...provided invaluable assistance regarding different design features including appealing colors.”

Judging by the response of the campers playing in the spray on July 31, the splash pad is going to be a big hit.

“The reaction at Foote Park today when the water was turned on was exciting, to say the least,” said O’Brien.

The splash pad at Foote Memorial Park, 12 Melrose Avenue, will be open seven days a week through Sunday, Sept. 17. For more information, visit BranfordRecreation.org or call (203) 488-8304.