A missing part of Pittsburgh's landscape has returned, as officials gathered at Point State Park today to reactivate its iconic fountain.
The fountain is gushing again, as the city gets ready to host the NFL Draft.
Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis threw the switch in the pump house, to bring the fountain back to life, since it was turned off last June as part of a more than $3 million-dollar renovation of Point State Park.
The improvements include new LED lights, leaks fixed, and updating underground wiring. The fountain typically opens to coincide with the the Pittsburgh Marathon in May, but with the NFL Draft later this month, its been turned on early.
“Point State Park is the crown jewel of Downtown Pittsburgh, we just needed to ‘redd up’ as Mayor (Corey) O’Connor likes to say,” said Davis.
“It is the gateway to our neighborhoods, it is the gateway to Downtown,” Mayor O’Connor said. “When visitors come through that tunnel, they’re going to see this first.”
County Executive Innamorato said the park is important not just to out of towners, but the people who live here too.
Visit Pittsburgh's Jared Bacher says there've already been over four billion media impressions about Pittsburgh leading into the NFL Draft.
Bacher says the PR and media benefits will continue through the draft.
State officials say there are more improvements in the works for Point State Park with restrooms on the City side, improved walkways and more.
Those are still at least two years down the line.
