The Womens Leadership Fountain, Kansas City, USA
Women's Leadership Fountain - 1899
Originally Known as The 9th Street Fountain: - Fountains were a part of Kansas City’s urban planning from the very early days of the city. The oldest fountain still in working order in Kansas City is the Women’s Leadership Fountain, which was originally known as the 9th Street Fountain. This outdoor fountain was in the planning stages at the time when the first city-built fountain was dedicated at 15th and Paseo in 1899. The 9th Street Fountain was dedicated later in the same year. In the following years, scores of fountains would be constructed throughout the city. The 15th Street Fountain was destroyed in 1941, making the 9th Street Fountain the oldest.
The
9th Street Fountain
George Kessler, a man who played a major role in the landscape architecture development in Kansas City, designed both the 15th Street Fountain and the 9th Street Fountain. Kessler was responsible for the development of the parks and boulevards that are so distinctive of Kansas City. He worked with Parks Board architect John Van Brunt in designing the 9th Street Fountain. It was planned to be an entry feature to Paseo Boulevard, which had just been built.
The water fountain, compared to more recently built fountains, was simple in its construction. At $4,115, it also cost far less, even by today’s standards. It consisted of a limestone basin cut in an oval. The water jet shot a spray from the center of the fountain upwards. It was situated on a raised sidewalk with an adjacent flower garden and gas lights.
Sometime in the 1940s, the 9th Street Fountain stopped working. It was repaired in 1970. The repairs did not last long and the fountain stopped working again after a few years. In 1990, it was renovated again more thoroughly at a cost of $125,000. The group that led the renovation effort was the Central Exchange, a Kansas City organization focusing on women leadership in local business and community efforts. At the time of the renovation, the fountain was renamed the Women’s Leadership Fountain in tribute to the group that had raised the money for the renovation. The names of 12 prominent women leaders from Kansas City were inscribed on the fountain.
In spite of the more recent renovation, the water fountain has fallen into disrepair again. The plumbing is non-functioning and the foundation of the 107-year-old construction is crumbling. Central Exchange and others are making efforts to raise 1.3 million dollars. This sum will cover a complete renovation of the fountain and the Paseo Boulevard, which has also been subject to the slow decay of time.
The proposed renovations for the fountains include modern replications of the original gas lights surrounding the fountain. In addition, the water feature will be changed to reflect a more contemporary style, while keeping with the fountain’s original design.