The Bayfront Park playground and splash pad grand reopening and ribbon cutting ceremony is set for Thursday, Feb. 1, at 10 a.m. at Bayfront Park, 5 Bayfront Dr. The public is invited to the ribbon cutting celebration of the newly renovated shipwreck-themed playground and splash pad. For the first 150 attendees, there will be a free gold doubloon to commemorate the occasion. The playground and splash pad have new features and amenities, such as new climbing structures, plenty of seating areas and large sails which offer shade. The new splash pad system allows children to control the flow of water instead of having a continuous flow like before. The original concrete animal sculptures from the previous Steigerwaldt-Jockey Children’s Fountain have been placed in the new landscaping after being restored by the artist. The playground and splash pad areas are ADA-compatible following the City’s ADA plan to update accessibility in City-owned spaces. Therefore, the new design raised the splash pad up by about seven feet to be level with the playground. This allows the playground and splash pad to become one entity instead of two separate ones like previously designed. As conceptualized and overseen by the Parks and Recreation Department, the restoration process started in Oct. 2020. The splash pad required a full renovation due to the Children’s Fountain needing increased maintenance and the cost of repair outweighing the lifespan. Hours of operation at the facilities will be: Playground: 9 a.m. – 11 p.m; Splash Pad: 9 a.m. – dusk. The project had a final budget of $3.3 million, with the majority being funded by the American Rescue Plan Act and the remaining balance coming from Penny Surtax III. For more information, contact Landscape Operations Manager, John Kretzer, via email: John.Kretzer@sarasotaFL.gov.