Tuesday, May 18, 1999

Fountain barricade coming down

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Complaints from public, council make difference

BY ANNE MICHAUD
The Cincinnati Enquirer

The city promised to remove the barricade by next month. (Michael E. Keating photo) | ZOOM |

        The lime-green barricade is history — almost. Bowing to pressure from city council and the public, the city administration agreed Monday to remove the painted plywood wall surrounding the Tyler Davidson Fountain, Cincinnati's premier public symbol.

        The wall should be gone by this time next month, Willie Carden Jr., superintendent of facility management. What will replace it, he's not sure.

        City officials say the fountain has corroded to the point it is in danger of collapsing, and a barricade is needed to prevent people from climbing on it.

        Mr. Carden conceded to council's Public Works Committee that beauty also mat ters. “We are trying to come up with something that is aesthetically pleasing,” he said.

        At the same time, in an effort to speed the repairs, the city has begun looking for a company to do the restoration work, Mr. Carden said.

        The original plan was to wait until a private fund-raising committee had reached half of its $3 million goal, which meant the “Genius of Water” would remain dry until next spring.

        Councilman Todd Portune pressed Mr. Carden for a faster timetable and said he expects a report next Monday. Mr. Carden is scheduled to meet Thursday with the restoration consultant.

        Citizens have contacted City Hall to complain.

        “Please fix the fountain and fix it now,” wrote Norman and JoAnn Barry of Mount Washington. “What an embarrassment the plywood fence is to our city.”

       

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