Tuesday, May 25, 1999

Fountain barricade will get dressing-up

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Mural or fence could replace green plywood

BY ANNE MICHAUD
The Cincinnati Enquirer

OPTION 1: Wrought iron fence would cost $12,000 and take 4 weeks to erect. | ZOOM |

OPTION 2: Mural would be donated free and take 7-10 days to cover existing wall. | ZOOM |

AS IT STANDS: The existing green plywood wall. | ZOOM |

        An effort to dress up the Tyler Davidson Fountain while it is under reconstruction has inspired two options: a wrought-iron fence and a vinyl mural to be pasted over the green plywood barricade in place now.

        Cincinnati City Council will take up the question Wednesday.

        Citizens have complained that the boarded-up fountain, Cincinnati's most familiar public landmark, is an eyesore and an embarrassment.

        A barricade to keep people off the fountain must stay in place through the end of summer, when the actual restoration work would begin, said city Facility Manager Willie Carden Jr.

        The wrought-iron fence would cost $12,000, he said. The man who proposed it, Raymond Miller, said he could erect the fence in four weeks.

        The vinyl mural would be donated by GCI Digital Imaging, said the firm's Andrew Yochum, and could be installed in seven to 10 days. It would depict the Genius of Water against a blue sky with details about the fountain's history, a description of the restoration and names of donors.

        The mural would include small windows that have been cut into the plywood.

        A private fund-raising effort is under way to collect $3 million to restore and maintain the 128-year-old landmark.

        City Councilman Todd Portune, who has led the effort to replace the green barricade, said wrought iron is “stately” and would allow people to see through to the fountain.

        Councilman Jim Tarbell said he is against any barricade until the administration shows there would be significant damage by turning the water back on.

        “Every day the water is off, my heart is in my feet,” Mr. Tarbell said.

        City Manager John Shirey said recently that the plywood wall helps fund raising because it appears more obvious that the fountain needs repair.

        Artworks, a summer arts employment training program for teens, is also interested in painting a mural, said director Tamara Harkavy.

        “If we get the opportunity, we would be very happy to take the project on,” she said.

       

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