Last year the fountains on the Capitol Square, part of a $810,000 renovation in 2005, were on the blink well into summer, due to a series of mechanical and plumbing problems (see Watchdog, 7/9/09). "Everyone involved is frustrated," said then-city engineer Larry Nelson.
But again, as of this week, two of the four fountains, positioned on either side of East and West Washington Avenue, were not working.
"We've had issues getting them going every year," says Parks Division spokeswoman Laura Whitmore. While all four were eventually running last year, "we did continue having difficulty throughout the season."
Now, she says, three of the four are operable, even if they're not turned on, and an outside firm is working to replace the mechanical system on the fourth. "If that works for a full year, then they'll systematically start changing over the other three." Hope springs eternal.
