At 9 a.m. on Thursday, August 15, Honesdale’s historic Central Park fountain was back in operation for the first time since June. The refreshing, cool spray filled the air and wafted on the breeze as parkgoers strolled by and snapped some photos.
It was a long, hot summer without her. Only rainwater and leaves collected in the bowl, and the stagnant water turned forest green.
“It’s a disgrace,” a Honesdale resident was heard repeating about a week earlier, pointing to the fountain as he passed by.
To get the fountain back in service, a backflow preventer was ordered, interim community manager Kevin Kundratic said via email before the repair was completed. He said once the fountain is repaired, a maintenance service contracted by the district will clean the bowl.
Kundratic said the well’s pump filter needs to be cleaned regularly and the bowl needs to be cleared of debris several times a week to prevent the pump filter from becoming clogged and burning out. He added that this summer, outdated parts had to be replaced, which caused the well to stop working.
“I have suggested to several (district) council members that the district should consider upgrading the fountain system with more modern, self-sufficient and less labor-intensive equipment,” Kundratic said.
“It’s things like this that increase appreciation for everything a DPW employee does for the community without the public knowing or being aware of it,” Kundratic said. “Appreciating the beauty of the fountain when it’s running should be an appreciation of the men who worked to keep it running.”
Until recently, the municipality had relied solely on contract workers and volunteers since Department of Public Works (DPW) staff resigned in late April.
“The lack of DPW staff definitely hampered the care and maintenance of the well. Not just the well, but all of the county’s properties and responsibilities, including streets, parks, trails, buildings and stormwater,” Kundratic said.
The district recently rehired two DPW employees and the interview process for a DPW director has been completed, he said. He expressed hope that the council will soon decide on filling the position.
City Councilman David Nilsen, who volunteered to help during the DPW’s absence, said he and Kundratic transported the fountain’s pieces to the park on May 8. Nilsen then assembled them with the help of a local plumber and the fountain was put into operation.
“After commissioning, we quickly realized that the current design of the fountain is outdated and thus faulty,” Nilsen said in his emailed comments. He said it was not functioning normally.
“The disadvantage of the current design is that it takes an enormous amount of time and money to check the well several times a day. This is necessary to make sure it is not clogged or needs cleaning,” said Nilsen. One problem is the lack of a filter system.
“I believe it is imperative that the Parks and Recreation Committee conduct an engineering or feasibility study on the fountain,” Nilsen said. “This study will allow us to explore different options and ways to improve/upgrade the fountain and bring it into the 21st century so that it is more efficient and practical to operate.”
“I enjoy the fountain. It is an institution in Honesdale. When it is in operation, it is a source of pride for the community. It brings joy to park visitors and children alike,” Nilsen said.
“Shame is an understatement,” said James Hamill, city councilman and chairman of Honesdale Parks & Recreation, commenting on the fountain that has been on display for most of this summer.
In a phone interview, Hamill said it would have been better for the municipality to hire a professional contractor to install and maintain the fountain this season. “We don’t have enough qualified people working on it,” Hamill said, who have been unable to do anything since an Aqua inspection found a new backflow device was needed.
Hamill said, “It was the job of the (acting) district manager and Mr. Nilsen not to fill the fountain with debris and let it turn green.” A contractor, Hamill said, would have prevented the fountain from “becoming an eyesore.”
Hamill recommended that the 2025 budget include the hiring of a park manager.
Nilsen wrote in his email, “I alone wish that Parks and Rec would soon acknowledge that the problem lies not with county staff, our current vendors or contractors, but with the neglect of the park’s planners and administrators who have failed to modernize this system over the years. I feel it has been routinely overlooked, even though it was blatant.”
Nilsen went on to say it was a “matter of priorities,” noting that Park & Rec has spent or received significant amounts of money on the new mobile event stage purchased last year and the planned dog park. “I believe some of those funds would have gone a long way toward rehabilitating the fountain,” Nilsen said.
Peter Becker has worked at the Tri-County Independent and its predecessor publications since 1994. He can be reached at [email protected] or 570-253-3055, ext. 1588.
