Downtown Dallas Wants to Fill Main Street Garden's Fountain. Will This Work?

By Robert Wilonsky Mon., Apr. 26 2010 at 4:44 PM

Categories: News

Patrick Michels

What the fountain looks like when there's water in it -- like a concrete pond filled with coffins trying to escape

When last we heard -- on March 29, if you're into specifics -- the fountain at Main Street Garden downtown wouldn't be running but two hours a day (11 a.m. to 1 p.m. every day). And how wow is that? But, look, that's all Park and Rec can afford right now. Money's tight.

But I see on Downtown Dallas's blog that that the organization, which has been tasked with managing the park under Park and Rec's auspices, is trying awful hard to keep the promised "rushing water" flowing a little longer during the day. So it's wondering: For now, how do you feel about having the water turned on from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Friday and 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday?

No promises. But Downtown Dallas would like to step up the flow by no later than May 1. But, seriously, no promises. And before you ask: No, the water isn't cycled through. It's plain ol' metered H2O from the city of Dallas. I dunno why not.

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Patrick Michels

So the planters on Central. Gone. 6 month old park. Going. And the City is just now figuring out that it might be time to tear down homes that haven't paid taxes in, hmmm, say, 20 years? Sure, give the gov't more to do; they're handling it so well. Fools.
Wait that's a fountain?
Yeah seriously. Who builds a fountain that doesn't cycle its own water?! Oh right. Dallas does.
Downtown Dallas, Inc. has decided to fund operations of the Main Street Garden fountain 1 pm - 10 pm on Saturdays and Sundays and 5 pm - 10 pm each other day. That request has been sent to the city. @dfwcre8tive Thanks for the mention of the Friends of Main Street Garden.
I remember taking a downtown tour one time, at which we were told that there is a natural spring below that fountain (it IS in the lowest part of downtown). Does anyone else know if that's true?
You can join Friends of Main Street Garden online now. The group uses funds that are raised to keep the garden plants fresh and run other amenities in the park. http://www.downtowndallas.org/mainstreetgarden.html
Are you saying that the water for this fountain goes into the air and then down the drain without being recycled? I find it hard to believe that even the city of Dallas could be that inept. In my mind the only cost to operate the fountain should be the electricity after the initial fill of water and some additional for evaporation.
Typical Dallas: Plenty of money to build stuff (keeps the local developers happy) no money to operate or maintain. World Class! Can't wait to see how well Dallas takes care of the Woodall Rodgers over pass park, that won't require much maintenance.
If the park is going to be successful, then all of its features have to be "on" at some point in the day: lights, that Vegas-looking "Park" sign, music, the Lily Pad serving cocktails, and yes, the fountain. Otherwise it will never look finished and people will not fully experience it (and possibly not return). It's too bad the fountain can't be on during the summer days when it'll be needed most, but I agree with this schedule which will hopefully attract the most people to the park.
Gosh, couldn't they put a few rain barrels on the buildings close by and send the water on demand to the (ugly) fountain so it could run for a much longer each day. Then set up a bank account through one of the city's non-profits so money is saved on NOT establishing another one for donation by anyone who wants that fountain to run from 11AM until 10PM daily. I would especially like to see a large percentage of donations from people who will be users of the park, although I will donate from McKinney because as a former resident of Dallas, I am delighted to see creative city projects that are citizen/people centric that also work! Just let us know when the site for donations goes up. It should probably be managed and overseen by the most honest CPA in the city.