Tom Bissett

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Belle Isle's century-old fountain was set to reopen Sept. 30 after $6M restoration

As of September 2026: Quoted on the project's launch in 2025

After 16 months behind construction fences, Belle Isle's James Scott Memorial Fountain reopens Sept. 30. Visitors won't see water flowing until spring 2027, because a standard policy bars turning on fountain water in cold months.

Updated Sep 16

Notable Quotes

It needs to last for another hundred years so we can make it to the 200-year anniversary.

from Belle Isle's century-old fountain was set to reopen Sept. 30 after $6M restoration · Updated Sep 16

When that bowl is structurally unsound, it could collapse and if it collapses, you're not just talking about danger for anybody that's down in this room but you could potentially lose the entire fountain.

from Belle Isle's century-old fountain was set to reopen Sept. 30 after $6M restoration · Updated Sep 16

Over here, it leaks on the electrical and over here, it leaks on the electrical. When the bowl is leaking, it's creating mud underneath us and it's just not very stable.

from Belle Isle's century-old fountain was set to reopen Sept. 30 after $6M restoration · Updated Sep 16

Part of that project is going to be to modernize that system, so that we can run LED lights through the bowl.

from Belle Isle's century-old fountain was set to reopen Sept. 30 after $6M restoration · Updated Sep 16

Two years ago, results of the concrete core samples taken from the lower bowl showed the basin structure needed to be addressed. 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.

from Belle Isle's century-old fountain was set to reopen Sept. 30 after $6M restoration · Updated Sep 16