Park Update: Greenway Fountains Status

September 3, 2009

The following is an update of the status of the Greenway fountains following some problems encountered this spring when commissioning (starting up) them.

Chinatown Park Fountain

The Chinatown Park Fountain was commissioned on May 19.  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. 

The waterfall lights were repaired and are working.  The black beach stones covering the intake grate will be replenished soon.

Chinatown Park Fountain with repaired underwater luminaires.

Wharf District Parks

One or more vehicles, drove on the Rings Fountain basin pavers sometime during the winter.  This caused many of the adjustable jacks that support the basin pavers to fail.  The MTA was aware of the damage and had ordered replacement jacks before the lease with the Conservancy was signed in February.  Repairs were planned for spring. 

MTA and Conservancy staff met on-site in mid-April to coordinate the repair and discovered that many more supports had failed.  The Conservancy consulted with the jack manufacturer and distributer and it was determined to switch to a more substantial jack which has a higher minimum height which will deliver greater strength and less downtime for future adjustments and repairs.  The jacks were replaced in late spring.  The Rings Fountain has been operational since early summer.

Damaged jacks beneath the Rings Fountain in the Wharf District Parks have been replace.

 

The “Harbor Fog” water feature near Rowes Wharf is currently operational.

Harbor Fog Installation in the Wharf District Parks.

North End Parks

The North End 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 working.

Parcel 10: On May 19th when the MTA and the Conservancy opened the vault hatch to the Parcel 10 (southern) fountain, steam came out of the opening.  Once the vapors cleared it was apparent 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. 

Substantial work has been done by MTA to get this fountain working.  While the fountain is currently active, its full potential is not being realized because the main large-capacity pumps that were damaged have not yet been replaced.  Cause for the flood has not been determined, and our insurance carrier is analyzing the event.  We hope that the remaining repairs can be completed prior to commissioning it in spring of 2010.

North End Parks Fountain are operational while work continues to bring them completely online.

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Contact:

Nancy Brennan
Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway Conservancy
617-292-0020
info@rosekennedygreenway.org