New London — It's been more than five years since the first of what would become many sanctioned water-gun fights in the city brought about 300 people to Bates Woods Park.

Upset after learning four adults and several juveniles had been arrested in connection with a water-gun fight in the Truman-Hempstead street area in 2010, resident Frank Colmenares initiated the Bates Woods battle, hoping to bring kids and adults together in a safe way.

Today, the event has morphed into the summer-long New London Water Wars, laden with rules such as using only water in the guns, only soaking those who've agreed to participate and not stopping traffic.

"There hasn't been one incident this year with this — not one," said Curtis Goodwin, friends with Colmenares. "To see where it's come from, where there was this violence involved, to this — this is amazing."

Sunday's battle, which acted as a finale to this summer's more than 10 games, included a cookout, a dunk booth, an inflatable obstacle course and a DJ in addition to the usual water guns and balloons that are handed out. The water wars have been waged once or twice a week throughout the summer, from Michael Road and Crystal Avenue to Hawthorne Drive and State Pier Road.

Goodwin, working the grill with former New London Public Schools Superintendent Nick Fischer and his wife, Karen, said the event was like a family cookout even though many people there weren't related.

New London Police Officer and City Councilor Anthony Nolan, also an organizer, said there are more people than he could name working behind-the-scenes to make sure each war is fun and goes smoothly.

"When you get 200, 250 people together and there isn't any issue — the only thing you see is smiles — it's an amazing day," Nolan said. "It shows you can have a good time in New London without any trouble."

Nolan, laughing while being deluged with water gun blasts and exploding water balloons, said he thinks the collective wars more than doubled in size this year.

"We need more events like these to keep kids busy," he said.

Among the participants of all ages were Mayor Daryl Justin Finizio and City Councilor Efrain Dominguez, the latter of whom was experiencing his first water war of the summer.

"I had to make it," said Dominguez, a social studies teacher at Dual Language & Arts Magnet Middle School. "A lot of the kids who are here I teach, so I had said, 'I'm going to get you at the water war finale.'"

Minutes after emerging from the waters of the dunk tank, a drenched Finizio said he felt "fantastic."

"This is the best way to beat the heat," he said, smiling.

l.boyle@theday.com

Twitter: @LindsayABoyle