Peace fountain faces another round of repairs
Posted on Thursday, January 17, 2008
Members of the Fayetteville Advertising and Promotion Commission hope repairs will take care of the problems with the Peace Prayer Fountain for good.
The fountain has been leaking since the day it was built, said Ron Troutman of Boulder Construction, with water flowing through the plaza foundation and into the parking lot underneath, causing stalagmites to form on the bottom of the parking deck.
Troutman said repairs, which will include covering a portion of the fountain with ceramic tile, will stop the leak and provide better protection.
The fountain will also run 24 hours a day all year long once repairs are complete. Troutman said the water will be heated and a valve will be added to increase circulation.
The movement will keep the water from freezing and save on energy costs.
It will cost about $ 20, 745 to repair the fountain, Troutman said.
The waterproofing is guaranteed for five years, he said, but should last a lot longer.
The fountain has gone through many adjustments since it was unveiled on the plaza of the Fayetteville Town Center. It was turned off shortly after its dedication on New Year's Eve of 2002 because water was splashing onto the steps and freezing, creating a potential liability.
Lights have been repaired, and the fountain has been resealed twice.
The fountain was created by Fayetteville sculptor Hank Kaminsky with a $ 250, 000 donation from Ed and Karlee Bradberry, who lease the plaza property to the city.
The work was created based on the story of a spiritual vision experienced by Masahisa Goi, who established the World Peace Prayer Society.
Kaminsky and about 20 additional artists and craftsmen spent more than two years completing the spinning sculpture, a 10-footwide, four-ton bronze globe emblazoned with the motto "May peace prevail on earth"in more than 100 languages.
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