The City Council voted last night to approve up to $146,850 to refurbish the Mayor Gregory S. Pettis Fountain of Life that resides in front of City Hall at Town Square Park. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Fountain of Life has been closed for nearly 10 months. This has allowed inspectors to evaluate the condition of the fountain and make recommendations on how best to repair it. The fountain is one of the City’s most beloved art pieces and active splash play features for children and adults young at heart.
Currently, the fountain has several broken water statues, cracks in the main fountain pillars, multiple mosaic tiles missing, and the need to clean off years of mineral build-up on the overall feature. In addition, the blue soft foam surface surrounding the fountain and its water statues needs to be completely replaced due to constant water flow, water quality chemicals, and the active use of the fountain for recreational purposes.
Funding will be split between the Art in Public Places Fund ($64,722.50) and the City’s Park Development Fund ($82,127.50). The goal is to finish the repairs in time for the Fountain to reopen this summer pending state and county public health approvals related to the coronavirus pandemic.
