KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- For about two years, when you drove down Ward Parkway, you probably saw a lot of construction near the Meyer Circle Fountain.
The pump room for the fountain was damaged. The bill to fix it and replace the old pipes? Nearly $1 million.
The fountain was purchased in Venice, Italy back in 1920. Some pieces on the fountain are as old as the 1700’s.
“Well my whole life, when I was a little kid I would drive by it, as an adult I drive by it. We take our grandkids by and they call it grandpas fountain,” David Fowler said.
When residents like David Fowler heard about the fountain's disrepair and the large bill the city faced to restore it, he knew the community needed to help.
“They can’t keep all of them of this magnitude running so, we formed a partnership to help them. It was a three-way partnership. It was the city, the City of Fountains Foundation and the collective homes associations in the area -- more than 12 homes associations on both sides of the state line,” Fowler said.
The city put up $600,000 for repairs and residents raised an additional $600,000. Part of the money raised will be put in a trust to cover future repairs.
“It was heartbreaking to have it down for so many years. Unfortunately, our funding is so limited that it was going to sit there for a while until the neighbors took it upon themselves to raise money and help get it back, so we are thrilled and so grateful,” Heidi Markle with Kansas City Parks and Recreation said.
Markle said when national TV stations come to shoot video in Kansas City, the Meyer Circle Fountain at the top of their list.
“They are always shooting B-roll of our fountains, and this is one of them. And it has been missed for the past two years, 'cause they were not able to shoot it. Particularly the last Monday night football game that was here, they wanted to shoot it and it was not working," Markle said.
Fowler said its important for people living in the city to do their part, which can sometimes cost more than just paying taxes.
“All the residents were supportive and donated money, no real corporate donors -- maybe one or two -- but we wanted this to be a neighborhood, grassroots campaign,” Fowler said.
The fountain will have a rededication ceremony on Oct. 25 at 6335 Ward Parkway. The program starts at 4 p.m.
