The Fountain of Wealth

This week my travels take me to Singapore, a sovereign city-state located off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula. The island was founded in 1819 and gained its independence from the United Kingdom in 1963, separating a second time from Malaysia in September of 1963.

The Island is known for its great casinos, medical tourism and education, but I’m after something specific. Located in the southern part of the island within the Marina Center sector, a reclaimed land zone known as the downtown core houses 5 buildings and a convention center known as Suntec City. Within this multi-use development center turned mall is one special fountain.

The Fountain of Wealth is listed as 2008’s Guinness Book of Records largest fountain. During the day, the fountain is turned off and visitors are encouraged to walk around the fountain’s central fountain and collect coins for good luck. During night hours, the fountain is the center of laser performances and between 8-9 PM special laser dedication messages can be made.

The fountain is the hub of the mall, located in the center. If the entire Suntec City sector were viewed from above, its five buildings and convention center would form a hand. Build in 1995, the fountain is inspired by the Hindu Mandala, a symbol for ‘oneness in spirit and unity’ and the word itself means ‘universe.’ The fountain is made of a 108 ft diameter silicon bronze ring held up by four slanted columns. The fountain stands at over 45 feet and its base is located underground.

The fountain symbolizes the equality and harmony of all races and religions in Singapore.

Continuum

The Julie Penrose Fountain is an amazing fountain in all respects. It towers over the open spaces of the America the Beautiful Park and sits atop a large pedestal that seconds as a turntable. The result is a sculpture that rotates every 15 minutes, and provides a delightful detail for many spectators to detect.

Dubbed ‘Continuum’ by creator Bill Burgess, this Colorado Springs fountain represents the life-giving properties of water and depicts in a simple way, precipitation from the sky. The sculpture stands over 40ft tall and weighs in at around 24 tons.

Architect David Barber lined the circular fountain with 366 water jets that spray water down to the fountain’s base where the fluid runs a circular path to the mouth of a pool and is collected for everyone to play in. The fountain is one of the Nation’s largest ‘sculptural fountains,’ and runs daily from 11:00 am to 5:30 pm between May 23 to August 22, and is open only on weekends from August 23 through Labor Day.

Dedicated June 7th 2007, the fountain’s construction underwent many setbacks due to budget crunches and uncertain funding. However, the fountain eventually received funding through the generous donations of El Pomar Foundation supporters. The organization was created to enrich the well being of Colorado residents. The Julie Penrose fountain is named after El Pomar Foundation Co-founder Julie Penrose, both she and her husband Spencer supported the project from its beginning.

Five Rivers Fountains of Light

This week my travels take me to the lovely city of Dayton Ohio. This mid-sized city is beautifully juxtaposed by modern buildings and historical landmarks which set the backdrop for a very satisfying visit to one of the world’s largest fountains: the Five Rivers Fountain of Lights.

Let’s learn a little more about Dayton before we talk about the impressive water feature. The city is considered by many to be the birthplace of aviation, and is home to the Nation’s largest military aviation museum – the National Museum of the United States Air Force. The city also hosts one of the Nation’s premiere air shows, the Vectren Dayton Air Show.

As if almost by coincidence, Dayton also sits on one of the Nation’s most plentiful aquifers: the Great Miami Buried Valley Aquifer. This underground reservoir of natural water is the source for our impressive fountain located at the intersection of Mad River and the Miami River.

The Five Rivers Fountain of Lights is a unique fountain because of its new technology and sculptural design to create a work of art. The fountain is made of 5 evenly-spaced jet powered pumps which sit on the bank of both rivers and spray water streams to a central 6th pump which propels water 200 feet in the air. This fountain has a tremendous thirst for water, and consumes 2,500 gallons of water per minutes.

The fountain is open from Memorial day to Labor day from 6:55am – 9:55pm and 10:55 – 9:55pm on weekends. For safety, the fountain uses directional wind sensors which can shut down individual jets for 10 minutes intervals when windspeed or wind direction threaten to compromise traffic. This feature also works during the winter months and helps keep traffic moving and the show going.

The fountains 5 jets are made from aluminum spires which rise up 60 feet in the air, and were sculpted to reflect the sun’s light in moray patters over the river. When night rolls in, the spires are covered with 25 ‘intelligent’ lights which can recreate almost every color imaginable. However, the most surprising features of this bridge is that it does not draw its water directly from the lake, but from the aquifer below, preventing costly maintenance and costly construction.

If you are visiting Dayton, make sure to stop by RiverScape Metro Park and witness this amazing fountain first hand.

Thrasher Memorial Fountain

 
“I’m on my way, I’m going back to Alabam.”

Yes, it’s true folks, my travels take to The Heart of Dixie, to a city known as the Watercress capital of the world. Anyone know what I’m talking about?

Well, if you guessed Huntsville Alabama then you guessed correctly, and I commend you for your excellent knowledge of North American History. Extra points to those who were able to identify the the song “Alabam,” by Cowboy Copas!

The city of Huntsville is home to several cool attractions, history and culture – it’s the perfect place to find a special fountain known as the Big Spring Park Fountain located in Big Spring Park.
 

 
The fountain, the centerpiece of the park, was donated back in 2005 and is accompanied by a plaza with benches and landscaping. The fountain sits within a circular basin that is connected by a canal extension which feeds to an open body of water. The Thrasher family donated the park in memory of their father Tom Thrasher. The fountain construction was made to memorialize healthy living for the people of Huntsville.

The fountain design has been the center piece of some local fun and for St. Patrick’s Day, the fountain and its canal are dyed green to celebrate the special day.

Other fun attractions in Huntsville include the NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, and the United States Army Aviation and Missile Command. Finally, if you are in town, the Panoply Arts Festival should give you something to think about.