The Memorial Garden Park fountain is expected to be repaired and operating by the end of the week – just in time to be lit with red, white and blue lights in honor of those who lost their lives in a series of terrorist attacks on the U.S. on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, City of Odessa Parks & Recreation Director Steve Patton said.
The fountain was turned off recently so that several repairs could be made, Patton said.
This is the second time since May that the fountain had to be repaired due to torrential rains, said Patton. The city had to replace a broken nozzle after the first storm. A second storm damaged a section of piping, and then a large plastic bag was sucked into the water pump, causing the pump to “burn up.”
“It’s been difficult finding the right piping,” for the current fountain which was constructed in 1995, Patton said.
The total cost for the new pump and piping is $48,000 and will be paid for through the department’s regular maintenance funds. The $48,000 will also be used to purchase a new cover to protect the pump from debris.
“The fountain isn’t just for aesthetics,” Patton said. “It also keeps the water from becoming stagnant and smelly” due to animal feces.
