BACKGROUND

In 2005 the Friends of Goodale Park commissioned Malcolm Cochran to design a new water feature for the pond in Goodale Park. The goal was to replace the existing aerator with a significant water feature designed by a contemporary artist. Cochran's initial design was approved, and fundraising efforts were undertaken, but it became apparent last year that it would not be possible to raise adequate funds for construction. The Friends and Cochran agreed in June 2009 to revisit the project at a lower budget and to start anew with an entirely different design. A steering committee comprised of several members of the Board of the Friends and other supporters of the project met regularly with Cochran beginning last fallto review his concepts. The artist has worked closely with Peter Korda, founder (now retired) of Korda-Nemeth Engineering, Inc., who has graciously volunteered his time to consult on structural engineering; with Carmine Menduni, Columbus Art Memorial, who will be general contractor and stone mason; and Tom Mallonee, CMS Fountain Consultants, for the design and engineering of the water display. Estimates for construction of the project have been obtained, and the steering committee believes it is reasonable to raise the additional funds for construction of the fountain.

DESCRIPTION

Goodale Fountain is a four-tiered, cylindrical structure constructed of split face light-gray granite block. Each tier is 42" h.; the four stacked cylinders range in diameter from 12' at the bottom to 6'- 4" at the top. This form rests on a15'-8"diameter base, therim of which will be polished to set it apart from the remainder of the granite elements. The basewill sit 6" above water level, giving it the appearance of floating or hovering on the pond. The fountain is topped by a pair of cast bronze elephants 30" tall. Its total height from water level to tip of the trunks is 17'-8".

Re-circulating pumps will supply water to a reservoir at the top of the tiered structure from which it will cascade over and down the form. A secondary pump will create fine sprays from the elephants' trunks. We envision the spray from their trunks on occasioncreating rainbows on sunny days and a hoary mist in the dead of winter.

In developing the design the artist researched the history of Goodale Park and conventions of period fountains. Early photographs of the Park show that there have been vertical, rockwork fountains in the Park for nearly all its existence. (The most recent such form was removed in 1995.) Year-round operation has been a significant aspect of these water features, and images of them in winter capture wonderful, naturally-occurring ice formations. Cochran thought as well about the history of the most notable residence on the Park, the historic Sells "Circus House" at the corner of Dennison and Buttles. An exhibition last summer at the Columbus Historical Society made him aware that the Sells Brothers' Circus was renowned for its troupe of elephants. Perhaps elephants could find a way into the design. Research on historic fountains produced numerous images of fish, dolphins, turtles, snakes and other creatures spouting water. None of them, Cochran thought, naturally emit streams of water from their mouths, but elephants do shower and spray with their trunks. The elephants that will surmount Goodale Fountain are a nod both to the history of Columbus and to the convention of animals in public fountains.

NOTES ON OPERATION

• CMS Fountain Consultants have specified submersible, non-clog pumps that will be located in a submerged, concrete pit adjacent to the fountain. Non-clog pumps are designed to pass debris without failing and therefore will require only screening for large material rather than filters that require regular cleaning and/or replacement.The water engineers recommend as well that system be designed so that the pit is continuously back flushed. If filters are necessary for the supply to the elephant jets, they will be located "on shore" for ease of maintenance.
  
• Questions naturally arise about what will occur in freezing weather when the pumps are not operating. When the system is shut off, water from the reservoir will automatically empty back into the pond.
  
• Illumination of the fountain will be important. Lighting designers at CMS Fountain Consultants recommend eight fixtures spaced evenly around the form, recessed in cores drilled into the rim of the base. Additional lighting will be required at the top to illuminate the elephant sculptures.
  
• The two pumps (one for the cascading water and the other for sprays from the trunks) and lighting will be on separate timers. This will enable us to adjust operation to seasonal conditions such as the length of the day, temperature, and use of the Park.

SUMMARY

MATERIALS: light gray granite, bronze
TIERED STRUCTURE: 14'h.
BASE: 15'-10" dia.
DIAMETER OF LARGEST TIER: 12'
ELEPHANT SCULPTURES: 2'-6" h.
OVERALL HEIGHT FROM WATER LEVEL: 17'-8"

GENERAL CONTRACTOR: Columbus Art Memorial, Columbus, OH
ENGINEERING: Korda-Nemeth Engineering, Inc. Columbus, OH WATER
ENGINEERING: CMS Fountain Consultants, Santa Cruz, CA

Fountains Placement in Pond (PDF: 3302 KB)

Artists Renderings (PDF: 8777 KB)

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