Status of Julie Penrose Fountain updated
Many people are wondering why there has been no water spraying from a popular fountain on the south end of downtown Colorado Springs.
The Julie Penrose Fountain in America the Beautiful Park wasn’t displaying its water curtain Monday because of a clogged line.
The city hopes to have the problem repaired in a few days, and a kids’ wading area under the rotating fountain still has enough water to remain in use.
“I think part of it is just normal wear and tear,” said Kim King of the city’s Parks and Recreation Department. “Because it’s a feature that has pumps, valves and lines, periodically you’re going to have issues with it.”
Since opening in 2007, the fountain has been affected by closures related to equipment breakdowns, water restrictions and concerns about debris and safety.
The city has placed attendants on duty to supervise kids; applied a non-skid substance to part of the wading area; prohibited kids from a raised section of the wading area; banned pets; and improved the filtration system.
“Often it’s not the same thing that breaks down, it’s something different,” King said. “But we try to learn from each breakdown.”
She said flood damage from the heavy rains of September 2013 also forced the fountain’s closure.
“And it’s weather-dependent,” King said. “If it’s too cool, too windy or too stormy, the spray turns off to avoid wasting water.”
The Haynesworth family noticed the absence of the spray.
“We were waiting for it to come down, and it didn’t,” said Kassandra Haynesworth. “We thought maybe it was on a timer or something. It hasn’t been on during many of the times we’ve been here, but the kids like it anyway.”
But others don’t see the spray as an essential part of the fountain.
“I can’t decide if I’d rather have it or not,” said Carol Stanley. “I know it’s part of the sculptor’s concept of merging air, water and earth. But I like how the water flows in a circle around the wading area, too.”
The fountain’s peak season is from Memorial Day weekend through mid-August.
In a related matter, King said the Deerfield Hills Spray Park will reopen later this month.
