Business owners want fountain out
Although only a few people appeared at Fort Myers Beach town staff’s meeting for Fountain Park improvements, those in attendance gave a clear consensus.
Take the fountain out.
Public Works director Scott Baker didn’t fight the feelings – he agreed.
“It’s a money pit,” he said.
At the time of the meeting, held July 22, the fountain was not working: the pump motor had broken and Baker was searching for a replacement. It was just another issue with the fountain’s poor design, he said, calling the fountain, a “maintenance nightmare”- other issues include the fountain equipment’s location under the gazebo, the pump’s outdated model which is no longer manufactured, and its unsanctioned use by teenagers as a practice spot for skateboarding.
Baker estimates it costs about $10,000 a year on the fountain’s upkeep, not calculating in his time fixing its repairs. It was installed with Tourist Development Council funds, and the town gets assistance from the TDC in its operation.
“I say cut the expense,” said Nervous Nelly’s owner, Len Lemmer. “If you’re bleeding the first thing to do is stop the bleeding.”
Rick and Rae Sprole, owners of the Sundeck Inn, suggested a splash-pad style fountain to replace the current large pool. The couple brought artistic renderings their 15-year-old son created for them to show an example of their idea.
The fountain would not be as intrusive as the current model and could be turned on and off, the kind small children can enjoy splashing in. Rather than a large body of water, their model showed small jets of water that spout up and arch back to the ground.
“There is a serious lack of things for kids,” Rae Sprole said.
Such a water feature would be an attractive addition to the park and a place parents and grandparents could take their children while grabbing a bite to eat or watching the water at the bay front. The Sproles, who moved from Orlando a few years ago, said these kinds of fountains were found around the city and were popular.
Baker said he was familiar with the fountain model and that they were not difficult to install or maintain.
“I love the idea,” said Town Councilwoman Tracey Gore. “It brings back the family island feel.”
Gore said the interactive fountain could create a walk-able avenue between Times Square and Fountain Park.
Lemmer’s concern was the ability to turn the fountain off when needed, but Baker said most of those kinds of fountains would have that ability.
The meeting was the next in a series of meetings for town staff to get public input on five town-owned public access properties. With ideas of what people want in mind, staff will research the costs and present the projects to the council. Baker said the Fountain Park project is a lower priority than the residential projects, but knowing that the current fountain was not loved by those around it, he could look into taking it out until the town had funds to install something else.
“Sometimes something small is great,” Rick Sprole said.