Spokane Park Board approves $1 million Rotary Fountain overhaul

Spokane Park Board members voted unanimously Thursday to move ahead on a $1 million overhaul of the Rotary Fountain in Riverfront Park.

The board voted unanimously to seek contractor bids for the artistic landmark on the north side of Spokane Falls Boulevard at Howard Street.

The stainless-steel-clad structure was designed by renowned Spokane artist Harold Balazs and completed in 2005.

The $1.25 million fountain with its 24-foot columns was spearheaded by Rotary Club of Spokane 21, which raised much of the funding and made the fountain a gift to the city.

It became a popular park attraction, not only for its visual appeal but also because it allowed people, especially children, to play in the scores of water sprays.

But the fountain had problems almost from the start. Within five years, it had to be shut down before the end of the season due to mechanical problems.

The overhaul is expected to include a complete retrofit of plumbing, pumps, control boards and the water purification system.

In addition, the project may include upgrades with better sprays and possibly colored lights.

Paying for the overhaul likely will require budget transfers from different sources, including the $65 million park bond issue that is paying for the current remake Riverfront Park.

Park leaders had not planned to spend tax money from the bond on fountain repairs when it was approved by voters in 2014.

Board member Ted McGregor said that looking back, the fountain should have been part of the measure.

The fountain project could be completed as early as spring 2018, park staff said.

In other business, the board also approved a $14.5 million contract with Garco Construction and NAC Architecture for a design-build approach to renovating the Pavilion.

The first step in the contract is a $250,000 allocation for design.