Some say summer is a time for love, warmth and happiness. A time for loved ones, lazy days, starry nights and … concrete dolphins.

That’s right, the Hopkins Park dolphin, which has delighted motorists and pedestrians along Sycamore Road in DeKalb for quite some time, has been reunited with its long-lost mate.

Both dolphins originally were purchased in the 1970s to serve as local playground equipment. But while one, until recently, has remained a beloved fixture in the Lincoln School’s playground, its better half has long since moved to its permanent home along Sycamore Road where it has idled its time hoping for the occasional car honk, awaiting the day the two could be reunited once again.

That day has come.

David Emanuelson, executive director of the DeKalb Park District, received word from the Lincoln School staff this summer that the dolphin, which had held the weight of children upon its back for a number of years, was no longer safe playground material due to its sharp edges.

“They were worried that kids would be getting busted teeth,” Emanuelson said.

To avoid insurance issues and lawsuit threats, the dolphin was taken back into the custody of the park district, and now sits side-by-side with its pal in front of the swimming pool.

When the prodigal mate was returned, it was sandblasted for restoration purposes, revealing a different base coat than the other dolphin. To spruce them up for the special occasion, the park district plans on bringing in a painter to create a realistic dolphin color pattern on both of them.

Also, construction is nearly complete on matching flower beds surrounding their bases that will contain a prairie grass mix intended to look like water.

Emanuelson said the purpose of the finned friends is to attract passersby to the park district’s swimming pool and water slides. And there might be a third dolphin around next summer … (wink, wink).