DETROIT (WWJ) — The iconic James Scott Memorial Fountain on Detroit’s Belle Isle is celebrating its 100th anniversary this month. But later this week, it will be closed as it undergoes a massive renovation project expected to last more than a year.
Officials with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources on Monday announced the approximately 18-month project will begin this summer, 100 years after the fountain “first delighted visitors in 1925.”
The $6 million in renovations will go towards “ensuring its beauty and functionality for the next century,” DNR officials said.
Starting on Friday, May 16, construction fencing will go up and the fountain plaza, adjacent sidewalk and Fountain Drive will close to the public through the end of 2026. DNR officials say the fountain will run again in May 2027.
To ensure the basin's structural integrity and protect the underlying mechanical room, the renovation project will involve installing new concrete beams and replacing the underlying fountain plumbing, according to the DNR.
A watertight seal and marble elements around the lower bowl will also be installed to help prevent water infiltration to subgrade operational space, DNR officials said.
The funds for the project are part of a $273 million boost in federal American Rescue Plan relief funding that has enabled the DNR to “tackle a decades-long backlog of infrastructure and rehabilitation projects in state parks and trails,” according to the department.
"This investment, made possible by American Rescue Plan funds, will ensure the long-term preservation of an iconic feature in Belle Isle Park," said Ron Olson, DNR Parks and Recreation chief.
Thomas Bissett, urban district supervisor for the DNR Parks and Recreation Division, said results of concrete core samples taken two years ago from the lower bowl of the fountain showed the basin structure needed to be addressed.
"Although the project will have an impact on visitors, we're grateful that ARPA dollars were available for this project to strengthen and protect fountain structure and operation for future generations,” Bissett said.
The fountain was designed by architect Cass Gilbert, whose notable work also includes the Detroit Public Library and the U.S. Supreme Court Building in Washington, D.C.
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