HUNTSVILLE, Alabama - The City of Huntsville is ushering in the first day of summer by dedicating a new aquatic play area at Brahan Spring Park.

Mayor Tommy Battle and others will christen the $250,000 splash pad during a ribbon-cutting ceremony today at noon. The latest addition to the "EveryBody Can Play" playground is a joint effort between the city Parks & Recreation Department and Huntsville-area Optimist and Kiwanis clubs.

"The water park is opening just in time for the hottest days of summer," Mayor Tommy Battle said in a news release. "Thanks to our community's creativity and volunteer spirit, we now have a handicap-accessible playground for children and adults."

The splash pad brings total investment in the special-needs playground to more than $850,000. It features a space theme with 51 different water features including sprinklers, bubbling geysers, water cannons, dumping buckets and roll arches.

"This project has been a dream for five years," said city Recreation Director Greg Patterson, "and it has taken hundreds of volunteers from across the city to make it happen."

Today is the summer solstice, which marks the official beginning of summer.