(Above) Nicholas J. Melas Centennial Fountain on main branch of Chicago River on July 31, 2019. (Click on images to view larger versions.)

By Steven Dahlman

8-Aug-24 – After two years of repairs and upgrades, both inside and out, Centennial Fountain is returning to active duty.

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago has announced a “reopening celebration” starting at 11:30 a.m. on August 16.

The celebration will conclude with the firing of the water cannon across the Chicago River. After that, the cannon will shoot its 80-foot arc for five minutes every hour on the hour from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., and 4:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.

Centennial Fountain typically operates from May 1 to October 1 but has been off since 2022.

“The fountain is 33 years old and was in need of a major overhaul,” said Allison Fore (left), Public and Intergovernmental Affairs Officer at Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, in September 2022.

A heavy rain in May 2020 in particular, she said, caused the river to rise and submerge the fountain’s controls.

“The repairs needed were more extensive than originally thought, so we began to put together a plan for its refurbishment. The assistance of outside contractors for both the design and its eventual repair are required,” said Fore.

Work included painting the fountain’s exterior. Contractors also had to wait for permits to complete the project.

The Nicholas J. Melas Centennial Fountain was dedicated in 1989 in celebration of the 100th anniversary of MWRD. Melas was an MWRD commissioner who served for 30 years, including 18 years as president of the board of commissioners.

Lohan Associates (now Lohan Architecture) designed the fountain. Architect Dirk Lohan is the grandson of Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, regarded as one of the pioneers of modern architecture.

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