Monday morning, July 30, the little purple earth mover screeched into the park. Straining to move some of the larger rocks into new locations, the little machine bucked and jumped while designer Jill Haynie guided and eyeballed the largest ones to gauge where she wanted them. Roaches by the thousands lived under the rocks and scurried out during the work, and a couple of snakes wandered out, but “surprisingly, no rats, which we all thought we would see,” said Haynie.

As the rocks were moved to provide improved seating and the plumbing and electrical work for the fountains were installed, the landscape came back together. By Friday afternoon, Aug. 3rd, everything was in place. All that was needed was the electrician to hook it up. The electrician showed, ran the wires, and the water splashed for the first time in years.

Haynie feels the first water flowing from the fountain.

The re-designed fountain is the one parallel to Haywood Street, the one along College Street has been re-configured for seating for now, but has everything needed if money is raised to add it.

The new look is pooless at the bottom, with large river stones filling the pool area of the 3,800-gallon system. Water splashes and falls like a mountain stream, which was Haynie’s vision for the work. The fountain will be on 24/7 from now on until cold weather forces a change.

Meanwhile, DARN needs more funding to complete improvements for the fountain that’s on the College Street side of Pritchard Park. Your tax-deductible donations can be made through Asheville Greenworks. Just let them know it is for Pritchard Park.