Designs aim to return Nanaimo's Italian fountain to former glory

Richard Harding, city director of parks, recreation and environment, checks over artist renditions and architectural diagrams for renovations to the Italian fountain in downtown Nanaimo. The restoration project is now awaiting funding to move forward.

image credit: CHRIS BUSH/The News Bulletin

After months of waiting, advocates will soon see the citys plan for restoring the Nanaimo Centennial Fountain.

Nanaimo city officials recently received an engineering report with the details and designs to return the downtown fountain to its former glory.

The centennial fountain at Port Place Shopping Centre, with its hand-carved salmon and colourful tile work, was crafted by volunteers and given to the city to mark the provinces centennial birthday just over 50 years ago. It has become a heritage site and Nanaimos only community-built fountain, but its now falling apart.

The concrete wall is starting to crumble, electrical work has corroded and the pumps have begun to fail. The spray is now more of a bubble than an arch and the underwater lighting no longer works.

Advocates blamed the city for not properly taking care of the centennial gift but have offered to help raise the money needed to get repairs done. They have been waiting since September for a tender-ready scope of work to show potential donors and said the progress has been frustrating.

City officials received the report from Read Jones Christoffersen Consulting Engineers last Friday and Richard Harding, the citys director of parks, recreation and environment, said the package will be taken to those involved with the project right away.

Staff members are also working on potential costs, based on the latest plan.

Early estimates had pegged the facelift at $250,000 more than double the initial $100,000 the city budgeted for repairs.

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Designs aim to return Nanaimo's Italian fountain to former glory