Bayfront Park fountain renovation complete after nearly 20 years

Axios

29-01-2025

After a two-decade dry spell, the Bayfront Park fountain is back from the dead.
Why it matters: The renovation of the downtown landmark comes amid a renewed push to restore the city's other historic sites, like Miami Marine Stadium.
Catch up quick: The Mildred and Claude Pepper Fountain first opened in 1990 but the city quickly reduced its hours due to cost concerns and, by 1999, had begun running it at half power, the Miami Herald reports.
The city later shut it down and, by 2007, the fountain became a takeoff zone for a private hot air balloon business.
The fountain, designed by acclaimed sculptor Isamu Noguchi, used to be a watery oasis on hot summer days but became an eyesore in recent years.
The latest: The Bayfront Park Management Trust, a city agency that operates the park, has spent nearly $5.5 million renovating the fountain, interim executive director Barbara Hernandez tells Axios.
After construction began in July, the fountain made its grand debut during the park's annual New Year's Eve celebration.
The original design has been preserved, but the fountain now features over 500 lights, 800 water jets and a central water screen that projects images and videos, per the Trust.
Yes, but: Hernandez says the fountain is "still in the testing stage" and that the Trust is "working on a schedule for show times."
It's still been running on most nights, she added.
What we're watching: Will the city be able to operate the fountain year-round or will cost concerns once again be an issue?
Hernandez says the trust is still calculating the cost of maintaining the fountain, which a city contractor has estimated at $20,000 to $30,000 a month.
What they're saying: Mayor Francis Suarez praised the fountain project earlier this month during his State of the City address.
"Seeing that fountain light up, other than the births of my children and my marriage, is one of the happiest moments of my life."