DETROIT – The iconic fountain in Detroit’s Belle Isle Park will temporarily close amid a $6 million project for upgrades to ensure it maintains its functionality for years to come, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources announced.
The James Scott Memorial Fountain was completed in 1925 and is celebrating its 100th anniversary this month.
When will the fountain close?
Crews will start working on the fountain this summer, and the work is expected to take 18 months to complete.
The fountain plaza, adjacent sidewalk and Fountain Drive will close through 2026. The fountain is expected to run again in May 2027.
Construction fencing will be put up by Friday, May 16, according to the DNR.
What work is being done on the fountain?
The DNR is completing the $6 million project on the fountain to ensure it maintains its structural integrity and to protect its mechanical room, according to a release.
Crews will install new concrete beams and replace fountain plumbing.
A watertight seal and marble elements will also be placed around the lower bowl to “help prevent water infiltration to subgrade operational space,” the DNR said.
Project funding
The project is possible through $273 million in federal American Rescue Plan relief funds that were made available to the DNR to address a “decades-long backlog” of infrastructure and rehabilitation projects.
“Two years ago, results of the concrete core samples taken from the lower bowl showed the basin structure needed to be addressed,” said Thomas Bissett, urban district supervisor for the DNR Parks and Recreation Division. “Although the project will have an impact on visitors, we’re grateful that ARPA dollars were available for this project to strengthen and protect fountain structure and operation for future generations.”
For more information about other projects on state parks and trails that are funded by the American Rescue Plan, visit here.
What to know about the fountain
The James Scott Memorial Fountain was completed in 1925.
It was designed by Cass Gilbert. The architect also worked on the Detroit Public Library and the U.S. Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C.
“The fountain was named for James Scott, a controversial figure in Detroit’s history, who left the city funds to erect a monument for its people, with the specific condition that it include a life-size statue of himself,” the DNR said.