The Waterbury Times| Community Events | Published May 26, 2026

The City of Waterbury will officially open the new PAL Splash Pad on Friday morning, marking the transformation of a once-vacant lot into a new recreational space for children and families on the city’s north side.

Paul K. Pernerewski Jr. will host the ribbon cutting ceremony Friday, May 29 at 10:30 a.m. at the new facility located at 11 Branch Street. Students from Jonathan Reed Elementary School will join city officials and community leaders to cut the ribbon and become the first children to use the splash pad.

The project redeveloped a previously vacant property into a modern public play area featuring nearly 3,000 square feet of spray features, jet streams, fountain sprays, and interactive water equipment manufactured by Vortex Aquatic Structures International.

Additional improvements include upgraded electrical systems, security cameras, bollard lighting, and an emergency blue phone system designed to improve safety around the site.

According to the city, the project was made possible through multiple funding sources, including a grant from the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development that supported environmental cleanup work prior to construction.

The city also allocated more than $920,000 in Community Development Block Grant funding toward the project, while Waterbury Police Activity League contributed additional funding.

Milestone Construction Services completed the project under a contract valued at more than $931,000, with Civil Oneserving as architect and the Waterbury Development Corporation overseeing project management.

For city leaders, the project represents another effort to reclaim unused properties and turn them into community-centered spaces as Waterbury continues investing in neighborhood redevelopment and youth recreation infrastructure.

EVENT DETAILS

What: PAL Splash Pad Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
When: Friday, May 29, 2026 — 10:30 a.m.
Where: 11 Branch Street, Waterbury
Who: Mayor Paul K. Pernerewski Jr., Waterbury PAL, city officials, community leaders, and Jonathan Reed Elementary School students