It’s not the coronavirus that’s kept the CWE’s iconic “watering hole” dry

You may have assumed, as I did, that the fountain on Maryland Plaza was left empty this summer because it, like city parks, are a magnet that could have been a potential virus spreader. Just another notch in the summer that wasn’t—Movies on the Plaza,  The Cocktail Party on Euclid, 4th of July Kids & Pet Parade, etc.

However, I learned recently that the cause in this instance isn’t due to COVID19 at all. Instead, after 15 years of operation, the fountain is undergoing extensive restoration to address leaks in the fountain reservoir and mechanical issues with the elaborate system of piping and jets that enable the elaborate displays we have all come to love.

The $70,000 project cost is being funded by the CWE North Community Improvement District (CID). Word is that work is expected to wrap up next week, perhaps in time to allow a few weeks of operation before being shut down for winter, and installation of the traditional holiday tree in early December.

For information about the inner workings of the fountain visit a 2011 guest post by CWEnder David Strom here.