SYRACUSE, N. Y. (NCC News) – The water fountain in Franklin Square has been the background of photographs for 30 years. The photogenic downtown attraction is no longer here in Syracuse.
The Parks and Recreation Department of Syracuse decided it was time for a renovation. The fountain that was installed in the early 1990s had built up rust and corrosion.
The company that initially made the fountain, Robinson Iron, disassembled it, and has sent it down to Alexander City, Alabama to be refurbished.
“After the renovation, you’ll see a lot of the rust spots removed. It’s going to be stripped down to the bare metal and sandblasted. From there they’ll address some of the… not defects but some of the areas that have corroded over the years,” Project Manager Josh Wilcox said.
After repainting and polishing the fountain, the Parks Department hopes it will be an even more attractive spot for photos.
“We’re in one of the most photographed parks in the City of Syracuse right now in Franklin Square. It’s huge for prom season, wedding photos…We expect this to look just as new as it was when it was placed here,” Wilcox said.
Local businesses will likely benefit from the increased foot traffic of a refurbished fountain.
“Anytime you can get a big population of people, then looking around at a business then they’re naturally going to be like ‘let me do this park activity’ then after a little while grab a snack, grab a coffee. You get a lot of opportunities just by people being out there,” Freedom of Espresso employee Eric Randazzo said.
According to the City of Syracuse, the project costs $68,700. The funding comes from the Parks Capital Improvement Funds. The renovation is set to be complete by mid-2024.
