Park Update: Greenway Fountains Status
June 4, 2009
We know that many people are disappointed that some of the Greenway fountains are not yet on and wanted to provide an explanation to those of you who want to know why. Here are the technical details and what we and the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority (MTA) are doing to solve the problems.
Planning for fountain commissioning (start up) began in February as the lease that transferred operating responsibility for the Greenway from the MTA was completed. The Conservancy entered into agreements with several specialty vendors for water quality and electrical/mechanical consulting.
In May the MTA and Conservancy began commissioning the fountains for the 2009 summer season so that the water features would be fully operational for the Memorial Day holiday weekend. However, several problems cropped up that the Conservancy Park Operations team is addressing with the assistance of the MTA.
Chinatown Park Fountain
The Chinatown Park Fountain was commissioned on May 19th. The startup was routine except for two items. The black beach stones that cover the return grates needed replenishing and the up-lights under the waterfalls did not work.
Replacement stones are on the way. Subsequent investigation of the lights revealed that the submerged light fixtures leak slightly, causing corrosion of the terminal connectors. We are working with the MTA to resolve the cause. We are also working with vendors to design ways to keep this from happening again. We anticipate the lights will be operational soon.
Corroded underwater light fixture in the Chinatown Fountain (5/18/09).
Missing black beach stones that cover the return grate in the Chinatown Fountain (5/18/09).
Wharf District Parks
A vehicle, or vehicles, drove on the Rings Fountain basin pavers sometime over the winter. This caused many of the adjustable jacks that support the basin pavers to fail. The MTA was aware of the damage and ordered replacement jacks before the lease was signed to support repair in the spring. In mid-April the Conservancy’s Park Operations staff and the MTA discovered that many more supports had failed. The Conservancy consulted with the jack manufacturer and distributer and decided to switch to a more substantial jack. This new jack has a higher minimum height which will deliver greater strength and less downtime for future adjustments and repairs.
The Conservancy has 100 of these replacement jacks, and we are in the process of restoring the fountain basin. Once this is complete, we will fill the basin with water and commission the feature for the summer. We anticipate full operation by June 19th.
The “Harbor Fog” water feature near Rowes Wharf is currently operating as planned.
Damaged adjustable jacks under the Rings Fountain in the Wharf District Parks (5/20/09).
Damaged adjustable jack, Rings Fountain, Wharf District Parks (5/20/09).
On the left is the existing type of jack used in the Rings Fountain. This type will be replaced with a much more substantial jack, shown to the right.
North End Parks
The fountains in the North End Parks are designed to suggest the former Mill Stream which was in this location in the 18th century. The fountain is actually two completely separate fountain systems. The Parcel 8 fountain is the northernmost one, and the Parcel 10 fountain is the southernmost one.
Parcel 8: The Parcel 8 (northern) fountain is operational. However, a problem between the pump motor controller and the operating system has been causing the pump to cut out sporadically. The MTA has been working with the Conservancy to solve this glitch.
Parcel 10: On May 19th when the MTA and the Park Operations staff opened the vault hatch to the fountain, they discovered that several feet of water had entered the vault during the off-season. The MTA provided labor and equipment to pump the vault out and it was immediately apparent that the fountain controls, pumps and appurtenances were a total loss. Cause for the flood has not been determined. The Conservancy’s insurance carrier is currently analyzing the event. The MTA continues to support the clean-up effort and has supplied skilled labor to provide temporary power so that the vault room can be dried out and repairs can begin. We are assessing ways that the fountain can be made operable this spring. A complete rebuild may not be possible for some time, possibly not until next winter.
Visible here are the water lines in the North End Parks fountain equipment vault when it flooded (5/20/09).
Damaged electrical equipment from the flood in the North End Parks fountain equipment vault (5/20/09).
Damaged water-pumping equipment in the North End Parks fountain equipment vault due to flooding (5/20/09).
This photo shows how high the water was when the North End Parks fountain equipment vault was flooded (5/20/09).
Contact:
Nancy Brennan
Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway Conservancy
617-292-0020
info@rosekennedygreenway.org