Comments on: Huron & Fifth

By: Beth Manuel

Beth Manuel — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 16:17:22 +0000

I look forward to the application process of the Fountain Play Licensing Board. Perhaps a medical examination will be necessary to prove one’s heart is still like that of a child’s? If so, I’m not sure I want to be on a public list of that nature.

By: Vivienne Armentrout

Vivienne Armentrout — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 20:21:21 +0000

If the second, presumably only anonymous posters will participate.

By: abc

abc — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 19:39:52 +0000

With or without clothing?

By: Murph

Murph — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 17:00:38 +0000

ArborUpdate memorial meetup, in the fountain? Any takers?

By: TJ

TJ — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 15:20:07 +0000

On a side note, does this sculpture / water feature / fountain have a name other than “the Dreiseitl fountain”?

By: cosmonıcan

cosmonıcan — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 14:48:29 +0000

Can anyone say “Whale?” How about “Arborland?”

By: Linda Diane Feldt

Linda Diane Feldt — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 14:02:00 +0000

from wikipedia, on play: [link]

“Play is a term employed in ethology and psychology to describe to a range of voluntary, intrinsically motivated activities normally associated with pleasure and enjoyment.[1] Play is commonly associated with children, but positive psychology has stressed that play is imperative for all higher-functioning animals, even adult humans.”
also
“Some play has clearly defined goals and when structured with rules is called a game, whereas, other play exhibits no such goals nor rules and is considered to be “unstructured” in the literature. Play promotes broaden and build behaviors as well as mental states of happiness – including flow.”

There are even different types of play, creating different positive brain and body changes. I’d rather ask, how can we get everyone to play in the fountain? Especially people who comment on on-line news.

By: Dave Askins

Dave Askins — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 13:31:39 +0000

I believe the question of who is allowed to play in the fountain is one best settled with a series of public information sessions, followed by focus groups, an online survey, a city council working session, culminating in a formal public hearing on a “Fountain Ordinance” and a vote by the city council, which should be postponed several times, but ultimately would include the establishment of a Fountain Play Licensing Board, which would issue non-transferable, revokable licenses to people who want to play in the fountain. There would be an essay portion on the license application to allow for adults to provide evidence that they are “children at heart,” and the Licensing Board would then make a determination.

But you know, Ben, it’s not like I’ve thought this through in any kind of detail, so there could be problems with that approach that weren’t immediately apparent to me.

By: Ben Connor Barrie

Ben Connor Barrie — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 13:09:12 +0000

Are those of us who are children at heart allowed to play in the fountain too?

By: Linda Diane Feldt

Linda Diane Feldt — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 12:30:10 +0000

There is a filtering system in place as part of the design. That is kind of the whole point of the installation, highlighting the beneficial use of storm water. Someone else can go into the technical details of how it is done on this site, but Johnboy’s comment is a great example of how the details of this project never really penetrated to the general public. That includes where the money was spent (3/4 went to local collaborators) and why this is so unique (incorporating storm water into an artistic water feature). As well as the timing – initiated well before the economy took a turn for the worse.
I don’t think it is drinkable, but the rain garden and cistern system was designed by intelligent thoughtful people with exactly that concern in mind. The water is both attractive and safe, and so demonstrates some important ideas about conservation and reuse.