Due to potential structural issues, deterioration and damage to the soft surface and the associated risk with it being an interactive, climbable feature, the Mayor Gregory S. Pettis Fountain of Life will now be dedicated to being a central art piece in our downtown. Staff will continue to work with the City Council to develop a plan and conceptual design for the future use of the Town Square Fountain as a visual only water feature.
The Public Works Department has placed fencing around the sculpture, and signage and banners will be installed around the fountain in the coming weeks. You can see the design in the featured image at the top of the article. This setup will be temporary while a conceptual design and plan are discussed and developed alongside the City Council.
The fountain has not been operational for the past six months. After internal inspection of the fountain and soft surface, staff reached out for a third-party review. The report revealed areas of soft surface deterioration, safety concerns, slip and fall issues, and potential structure issues – with varying degrees of risk associated with operating the fountain as an interactive, climbable water feature.
In addition, the soft surface’s lifespan is generally every two to three years depending on a variety of factors. The combination of heat, water, and the potential hydrogen (pH) factor of the chlorination for health and safety purposes along with the increased use makes it extremely challenging to maintain the soft surface for a longer period.
LOOKING FOR PLACES TO COOL OFF?
The City of Cathedral City, the Palm Springs Unified School District and Desert Recreation District will once again provide recreational swim sessions and swim lessons at the Cathedral City High School pool. The agreement was approved by the City Council at the regular meeting on Wednesday, March 8, 2023.
The pool, located at 69250 Dinah Shore Drive, Cathedral City, CA 92234, will be open to Cathedral City residents from Sunday, June 11 – Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023.
Summer 2023 CCHS Pool Operating Schedule:
- Monday – Saturday
- 6:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. & 1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Sunday
- 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Water features are also located at both Panorama Park and Ocotillo Park:
- Panorama Park Turtle Water Feature, 28905 Avenida Maravilla, Cathedral City, CA 92234
- Ocotillo Park Water Feature, 33300 Moreno Rd, Cathedral City, CA 92234
- 6:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
In the upcoming Parks Improvement Project (PIP) Plan, staff has proposed additional and improved water features in various parks throughout the City:
- Add a water feature to the grounds of:
- Town Square – but not within the Fountain of Life core (FY 2023/2024)
- Century Park (FY 2024/2025)
- Improve the water feature at:
- Ocotillo Park (FY 2025/2026)
- Panorama Park (FY 2026/2027)
The Fountain of Life was designed by artist Jennifer Johnson in coordination with architect Reuel Young, A.I.A. It was built by House of Stone and Fountains and Landscape Enhancements. Artisans whose families have sculpted stone for more than 600 years carved the fountain pieces out of adoquin stone from a quarry near Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. Once the individual pieces arrived in the desert, Johnson spent more than a year adorning the fountain with hand cut mosaic tiles and glass. Click here to learn more about the project and its history.
