We All Lose: Pershing Square Fountain Opens First
Eric Richardson
[Flickr]
A couple poses for a photo in front of Pershing Square's fountain, which once again has water in it.
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — Two weeks ago we asked what would open first: Lower Angels Knoll park, the Pershing Square fountain or L.A. Live. It wasn't a particularly fair contest, but overwhelmingly your responses indicated no faith in city government and chose that L.A. Live would be first on the scene.
Suckers.
The Pershing Square fountain got back into business today, pumping water into its pool of smooth stones to the delight of tourists and pigeons alike.
Lower Angels Knoll park continues to show no evidence that it ever intends to open. It just might take as long for crews to clean off all the pigeon droppings from the site as it has to construct the place. The spot is a favorite for pigeon feeders, despite the fact that feeding pigeons is a misdemeanor offense in the area.
L.A. Live continues to be on course for a November opening of the project's restaurant and retail spaces. The GRAMMY Museum has opening festivities scheduled for December 2 - 7.
Bartleight on August 26, 2008, at 02:59PM – #1
Ha! For once the long shot won. Who knew?
Norbie 7 on August 26, 2008, at 08:41PM – #2
If they'd only have changed the pool into a hot tub and started selling margaritas, the place would now be a smashing success, at lunch time as well as after hours. Weekends? No problem - just make it clothing optional. San Diego has Black's Beach. L.A. has Pershing Square.
Urban Bruin on August 27, 2008, at 08:54AM – #3
I guess Park and Rec’s were able to find their plunger. Yeah…run dirty water run!!
chattycathy on August 28, 2008, at 07:22AM – #4
To conserve one of our precious resources, we have to ask for a glass of water, but we accept the frivolous use of water fountains as acceptable?
Eric Richardson (@blogdowntown) on August 28, 2008, at 09:13AM – #5
Cathy: The conservation argument is one of the things that has kept the DWP building's great fountains from running regularly, which is one of the big travesties of Downtown. With proper plans for recycling and the use of reclaimed water, fountains can be perfectly acceptable in their use of water.
BusTard on September 01, 2008, at 08:19PM – #6
I will look it up, but I am curious to know if the Pershing Square fountain is recycled or reclaimed water.
Rich Alossi on September 01, 2008, at 09:53PM – #7
Fountains shouldn't be the main cause for concern among water conservation enthusiasts. Pools, East Coast / European-style landscaping, and inefficient agricultural and industrial uses are all much larger water wasters than fountains are.
MillerSC on September 01, 2008, at 11:06PM – #8
Considering the lavish use of water and, for that matter, outdoor illumination, in many of the major cities of the world, particularly Rome (e.g., the Trevi Fountain, the huge fountains in front of the Vatican), Paris (the fountains around and lighting of the Eiffel Tower), London (fountains of Trafalger Square and the nightly illuminated Big Ben), New York City (fountains around Columbus Circle, spotlighted towers everywhere else) and Washington DC (fountains and lit-up monuments galore), for people in Los Angeles -- historically always a pipsqueak when it comes to the magnificence of its public spaces -- to be oh-so-frugal and oh-so-thrifty about their environment is both hilarious and pathetic.