An addition is coming to Jacobs Beach, hopefully in time for the summer season starting next Memorial Day. The town, with the help of a cadre of dedicated volunteers who have been diligently raising funds, hope to have a splash pad installed at the property in 2022.

What’s a splash pad? It is a concrete pad that shoots jets of water up in the air, allowing for a fresh water cool off, and, importantly, a beach experience for those unable to negotiate a walk over the sand to the water.

Several towns on the shoreline, including Clinton and East Haven, have these water features installed and they have become an important gathering point for these municipalities. Splash pads are intended as a fun way for kids of all ages to enjoy the beach, wash off after a salty dip in the Sound, or for just plain goofing around.

According to Parks & Recreation Director Rick Maynard, there are a number of aspects of the project that make it an exciting new addition for the whole town.

“Splash pads are becoming quite popular—not quite as much as Pickle Ball, but pretty close—so we thought this would be a great project for the town,” said Maynard. “It is truly fun for all, accessible for all, and is really going to enhance Jacobs Beach.”

The current plan does not require much of a footprint, according to town officials, and has other features that make it in keeping with Guilford’s low-key style of project planning.

Maynard hailed efforts by the Splash Pad Committee that since 2018 has been responsible for presenting the idea to the department.

According to Mandie Sorrentino, who chairs the committee, she and the group felt there was a gap in what was available for young families. Sorrentino solicited feedback from social media groups linked to Guilford and began to form a consensus on what was needed.

“We put it out there on these sites ‘Can you imagine if Guilford had a splash pad?’ The response from all kinds of families was so overwhelming that I felt compelled to approach the Parks & Rec and ask them,” said Sorrentino. “They are super supportive of projects and the community as a whole so I presented the idea and it kind of snowballed from there.”

According to Maynard and Sorrentino, seniors and those using wheelchairs can now enjoy the environs of Jacobs Beach, even if they are limited in their access to the waters of the Sound.

“That was a huge factor for us and the committee, and the town,” said Maynard. “One of the beauties of this is the accessibility for wheelchairs and for seniors and others who can’t get down to the water. They may not be able to get the experience of getting into the waters of the Sound, but they can sure get a water experience.”

Sorrentino stressed how important it was for the design to accommodate all of Guilford’s residents.

“That is the best part about this project. It is a completely inclusive project that will serve the entire community from families with young ones who aren’t even walking yet, and for anyone with special needs or challenges navigating down to the water, especially for the elderly and seniors,” said Sorrentino. “We have received comments from some seniors who are thrilled about this, because it will really serve them.

“Rick and his team have done a fantastic job making Jacobs Beach accessible, but sand can be difficult to walk on for some and this plan will really address that need,” she continued. “The experience of water is therapeutic no matter what your age, so I think it will be really impactful for everybody.”

Fundraising was moving steadily forward in 2020 before the pandemic ground that task to a halt. According to Maynard, however, funds from American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA) will help bridge the gap needed to fund the project.

“COVID just shut everything down. It made it impossible to conduct the fundraisers because they were event based,” said Sorrentino. “People couldn’t gather and it was just a domino effect. It became very challenging, businesses were closing, families were struggling, parents were losing jobs, and it had a tremendous effect on fundraising.”

Maynard also said that rising constructions costs and timelines make it essential that the town move speedily to get the project underway.

“The plan now is for next Memorial Day,” said Maynard. “Of course, getting the materials is going to be a challenge, but we hope to have a bid go out by November.”

According to Maynard, the town also plans to expand the available parking at the beach as well. Temporary parking on a large grass section of the property using cones and rope has always been a part of the parking situation at Jacobs, now, according to Maynard, some of those spots will be dedicated parking with the same gravel or shell cover as the rest of the lot.

According to both Maynard and Sorrentino, another unique feature of the project is that water from the pad is recycled and will be used for plant and grounds watering, making it an even better fit for the beach.

“Another aspect that was really important to us when we were thinking of the design was water reclamation,” said Sorrentino. “The design team we worked with were fantastic. This is not going to be a big, colorful, flashy project. This something very natural and all color tones are going to blend right in with the beach. The best part of the design, and one we were excited to incorporate, is that we will be able to recycle and reuse water. We want to be conscious of our water use, and don’t want to be wasting water.”