Demolition, reconstruction planned for City Hall north fountain and sidewalk
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- Drivers and pedestrians traveling Downtown will see a prominent section of City Hall and Civic Center Park undergoing large renovations this fall.
City officials are preparing to move forward on a $190,000 construction project involving the complete demolition and removal of the existing fountain structure in front of City Hall between Faraon and Frederick streets.
Demolition will include all of the brick, stone and concrete materials by the fountain, including the large concrete retaining wall. Once the site is regraded, a new fountain and circular patio area will be installed with benches. The well-known wheel and wagon statue currently in place will be reinstalled with the new fountain.
"One of the things that we're also wanting to address right now is some possible line of sight problems that we have right now (for drivers), the fountain is kind of elevated compared to the street level," St. Joseph Parks and Recreation Director Jeff Atkins said. "We're going to bring it back down the street level."
The project also includes the construction of a new sidewalk and installation of decorative landscape rocks, in addition to grass being replanted around the concrete fountain structure. The new layout is designed to give the fountain and statue more prominence by relocating the bushes that currently block much of their view.
"It'll be a lot cleaner look to it. We're going to have benches placed around it, but nothing that really grows tall that will then block the view of the fountain itself again," Atkins said.
New fountain materials have already been ordered and demolition work is scheduled to begin this fall. Reconstruction of the fountain will take place during Phase II next spring and will conclude that season.
Atkins expects some minor traffic impacts to occur during the project.
“Frederick really won't be affected, but this far inside lane here on Walter Welsh Avenue (Faraon Street) will probably be shut down as kind of a staging area,” Atkins said. "Hopefully, it won't be more than a late spring project to be complete."
