Splash Pad Delays Move Opening Toward End of July

A rainy month of June and delays in receiving a major piece of equipment from the project manufacturer have pushed back the opening of the Splash Pad at Watson Park, originally scheduled to open at the end of June.

The pad, funded by a portion of the tugboat Capt. Julius Petersen money not going toward the pool and ice rink at Braintree High School, should be completed within two weeks, though there is no set date for a ribbon-cutting, Director of Recreation and Community Events Nelson Chin said.

Later this week, staff members will be trained in how to operate the equipment, in particular the filtration system designed to clean and recirculate water for use within the splash pad. That system is also undergoing fine tuning and the entrance walkway needs to be built, Chin said. Surrounding trees will likely be planted in the fall.

"We're working out the details so it's done as quickly as possible," Chin said.

The 4,000-square-foot seasonal play area will be enclosed by a fence and will have established hours of operations. Those hours, along with when the pad will open and close for the season and other rules and regulations, need to be finalized as the pad is completed, Chin said.

NELM Corp. of Carver is installing the splash pad. Chin said the contractor has hit all of its timeline targets, but that a delay by the manufacturer in delivering the recirculation tank contributed to the project's completion being pushed back.

After Capt. Petersen died in 1963 and gave Braintree $65,000 for a pool at Watson Park, the funds grew to nearly $2 million and town officials fought to allow the pool to be placed elsewhere after some neighborhood residents criticized the original location.

Two and a half years ago, Sullivan proposed placing the pool at the high school, partnering with a private company and adding an ice rink as well. Braintree will contribute $1.5 million from the Petersen fund toward that project, and the company is expected to make an initial investment of $8 million to $10 million.

The remaining Petersen money was earmarked for improvements at Watson Park, including the splash pad, parking and revamped walking trails.