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Washington Evening Journal
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The work of maintaining Washington’s renowned fountain
Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
WASHINGTON – Washington’s iconic fountain has fallen dormant for another winter, but don’t worry because Memorial Day will be here soon enough and water will be shooting through the air once more.
The city’s beloved fountain has adorned Central Park since 1939. It provides among the most picturesque backgrounds in town, which is why it’s a favorite spot for family portraits. Its likeness is painted on the city’s water towers, and it serves as the city’s logo.
“It’s the centerpiece of the community,” said Washington Parks Superintendent Nick Pacha, whose department is responsible for caring for the fountain.
Maintaining the fountain in working order is a labor of love. Pacha said both automatic and manual cleaning are an integral part of keeping it clean. The city has an automatic chlorine dispenser on the fountain to keep it from turning into a swamp, but an employee has to clean the filters a few times per week.
“In the fall, starting around Labor Day, we have to come up with a pool net to clear debris and do a deep cleaning about once a week,” Pacha said. “We come here with a vacuum, typically on Thursdays before farmers market. But it has to be cleaned out every day, and we check on it multiple times per day.”
The fountain is operational from around Memorial Day through Washington’s Homecoming, usually in September though it was a little later than normal this year. Pacha said it’s nice to keep the fountain running for the Homecoming Parade before turning it off for the year and putting its winter cover on.
Activity in Central Park is slowing down. Washington held its final farmers market of the season on Oct. 9. The fountain remains a beautiful piece of Washington’s landscape even in the winter thanks to a Christmas decoration the city puts on that mimics the fountain’s appearance in summer with lights. Those fountain lights are turned on during the town’s Lighted Christmas Parade just after Thanksgiving.
Call Andy Hallman at 641-575-0135 or email him at andy.hallman@southeastiowaunion.com
