The City of Fountains Foundation hosts 2024 season celebration in KC
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KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City held true to its nickname on Tuesday afternoon when the City of Fountains kicked off its annual Fountain Day celebration.
Community members and public officials gathered at the Northland Fountain, near North Oak Trafficway and Vivion Road in Kansas City, Missouri, from 1-2 p.m. to connect and learn about the city’s history.
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Several notable figures spoke at the event, which was put on by the City of Fountains Foundation, including Mayor Quinton Lucas, the Kansas City Missouri Fire Chief, the Kansas City Parks and Recreation Director and the City of Fountains Foundation President, Mark McHenry.
This year’s event was not just about turning the water back on, the City of Fountains Foundation said. It was a “symbol of renewal, community spirit, and our collective efforts to preserve the historical and aesthetic value of Kansas City’s fountains.”
Fountains are a famous part of Kansas City’s history. Dating back to the late 1800s, they were mainly used for horses, dogs and birds in the city. As the years went by, fountains appeared downtown with various architectural styles, providing citizens with safe drinking water, according to Visit KC.
Then, in 1973, the City of Fountains Foundation was created, which has since restored the historic fountains in-and-outside of the city that fell into disrepair, and built several new ones along the way.
Today, there are over 200 fountains registered throughout the Kansas City metro with 48 that are publicly owned, Visit KC said.
According to Kansas City Parks and Recreation, there are many famous fountains throughout Kansas City. But the “best-known” and “most-photographed of all the city’s fountains” is in Mill Creek Park.
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This historic statue, which consists of four large horsemen and four small children playing on dolphins — one of which was missing prior to purchase, but later replicated — is located off the Country Club Plaza, near Emanuel Cleaver II Boulevard and Mill Creek Parkway. It was sculpted in 1910 by Henri-Léon Gréber and installed in 1960.
There are many other fountains throughout the metro that have deep symbolism, unique architecture and impressive craftsmanship. And now that ‘fountain season’ has officially begun, you can see them for yourself.
