Decatur Wants Your Help Installing New Drinking Fountains Around the City
Decatur Metro | July 10, 2011From Patti Garrett’s Blog…
The Active Living Advisory Board’s Water Fountain Committee is looking for volunteers to help plan the design, funding and placement of drinking water fountains throughout the City. A goal of the ALAB is to make it easier for residents and visitors alike to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Having water readily available to walkers, runners and bikers will help to fulfill that mission and make Decatur an even more livable City.
To volunteer or for more information contact Bill Adams at 404-688-1222-o, 404-273-0687-cell or wtadams@adamsrealtors.com.
A chicken in every pot, an elephant water fountain on every corner!
But seriously, this is certainly something that is sorely missing from city streets these days. Especially in the DEAD of summer. Oh and please, let’s not try to be too cute or stylish with the design. Simple and insanely functional gets my vote.
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It would be great if some of the fountains had low level outlets for pets.. like they have in some of the dog parks. Probably too pricey.. but Fido would be very grateful!
The one that’s on the square right now, with person level and dog level access is nice.
I also vote for functional and ubiquitous. Water fountains that work, street mailboxes, and payphones are disappearing. Makes it hard to live the simple life if you have to own a computer, pay for an ISP, carry a cellphone, and afford to buy bottled water when you’re out just to survive in America.
Why do you assume anyone has to buy bottled water when he leaves his house? I haven’t left my house, for work, errands, or fun, in 20 years without my refillable bottle of water. What could possibly be simpler to think of, and implement, on an ongoing basis?
You must be young. I can’t leave without forgetting my glasses, or my sunglasses, or my sunscreen, or unplugging the coffee pot, or locking the door, or my mobile, or my lunch…I could go on.
Fortunately, I always remember to have a water bottle on hand when I lock myself out of the house.
I’m a fan of the kind of spigot you twist rather than the button-pressin’ kind, personally. Could we also get the beach-style shower kind for the Decatur Beach Party? That’d be cool.
There is a lovely water fountain at Winnona Park on the field that hasn’t worked in years:(
If Decatur had more water fountains, I go for a walk or bike ride. Until then, I will sit on my couch eating potato chips. There is just NO WAY I will fill a water bottle and carry it or attach it to my bike. My hydration is your responsibility.
Laughed aloud. You’re funny, DEM. But water is a lovely public service. I’m all for it.
You aren’t even for public water fountains? Wow. Even the Romans and Aztecs had public water fountains, didn’t they? Of course, they didn’t fare well in the competitive market long-term–the barbarian and Spanish invasions, respectively, did them in. Should have privatized the water fountains!
We have quite a few around town now. There are several however, Waddell Park and the one in front of the Rail for example, that don’t work or aren’t turned on.
If they do work, at the first hint of winter they’re turned off. How about a design deals with that limitation?
There’s also one in Oakhurst Park that was shut off the last I checked (in late June) and didn’t work well prior to that. It had such a pathetic drizzle you’d have to suck the spigot to get any water.
I think fountains are a great idea, but I’m ambivalent about paying for more when we currently don’t make them enough of a priority to turn them on in the Spring and make sure they work well.
I drink alone, yeah
With nobody else
I drink alone, yeah
With nobody else
You know when I drink alone
I prefer to be by myself
I think they should be very careful with the design. After several years of trying to get water from the fountain at Mead Rd Park, finally pestered the city into fixing it only to watch kids poke sticks into the spigot and render it unusable again. If there is any way to stick-proof or kid-proof these, it would be wise.
Probably a pipe dream, I know. I haven’t figured out how to outsmart my kids after 11 years of trying. Makes me think it’s impossible.
What about public restrooms?
Yes! I remember a time when clean, safe public restrooms were more common. Any decent civilization ought to have public restrooms and drinking fountains. I guess you can argue that street mailboxes and payphones have been superceded in our modern era but restrooms and drinking fountains should be needed no matter what the era or the civilization.
I agree that a really civilized city would have public restrooms. (like, Paris, London, etc). Since MARTA was forced to close most station restrooms, some of the stations are getting pungent. But does Decatur have a need for public restrooms?
At the parks, yes. Do they all have them now? Glenlake didn’t used to, maybe it does post-renovation. It used to be a pain running one’s young child all the way down to the Tennis Center, which might not even be open. And the pool locker rooms aren’t open except in the summer.
Glenlake does indeed have them, and they’re not bad (as public restrooms go)!
And the ones by the tennis courts have been there since the beginning of time (or at least my time around here) but they aren’t always unlocked.
Sorry. If I knew how to add the little smiley or sarcastic (or is it irony?) face, my comment may have been taken less seriously. My better half and I had a short and not so positive conversation about the original post. “They want what? Why not public restrooms in every neighborhood? What about fitness coaches who harass us about a healthier lifestyle? Why not offer free child care at the Rec to those parents that want to walk without their kids whining about restrooms?”, and on and on.
It seems reasonable for the city to have a water fountain at public locations where large numbers of people regularly congregate- the square, large parks, and maybe a few others like the cemetery. Otherwise, we should be responsible for our own hydration. On this post, I agree with Dem.
DEM and Mr. Billingsly: Isn’t it reading a bit too much into it to assume the City is overseeing anyone’s hydration? And I know there is some sarcasm in your responses, but this would seem to be a proposal to provide an amenity rather than to ensure no one gets dehydrated (not so big-brotherish).
If your concern is how much the City would need to spend on what can be considered a “nice to have” or a luxury, I share your concern. I’m glad that I’m not the only one with that concern.
But the post does indicate that the committee is just planning, including funding, which would suggest to me that the entire cost wouldn’t necessarily come from general funds, i.e., entirely from taxpayer dollars. And perhaps there are also opportunities to save with volunteer labor helping with the installations. Looking forward to finding out more.
Chris: I was surprised by your question, and did not realize you were being sarcastic, as usual. Still, our city does not have to be so meager and could be more humane and civilized than your stinginess calls for. That is what I advocate.
Can we get the kind that you turn on by stepping on a pedal instead of using your hands? I can’t stop thinking of the buttons as germy. Plus, it’s nice when you have your hands full or are trying to help a child.
Good idea. Although I have some unproven, intuitive only sense that this style breaks more often, probably from being stomped by the same children who poke sticks in the spigot. (“Really?! What ever possessed you to do this, young man!”). For some reason, I think the turn handle style is more durable than the push button or foot pedal styles.
Why not both — foot pedal and hand lever or knob or whatever?
They need to be as bullet-proof as possible, of course, re. weather. As for kid-proof — sure, make them as tamper-proof as possible, but here’s a thought: children old enough to be in the park or elsewhere without being monitored every second, are also old enough to grasp the concept of vandalism. Forget about outsmarting them — sometimes the only thing they need to know is the difference between right and wrong and that bad acts have consequences.
“the only thing they need to know is the difference between right and wrong and that bad acts have consequences”
Exactly. That’s why we need the kind that electrocutes vandals. As a lawyer, I see no liability concerns whatsoever…
My favorite is the kind with variable and unpredictable water pressure. So that for one user the water dribbles out, for the next it shoots up and gets him in the eye. Hours of fun!
As a runner and cyclist, I approve of this product and/or event.
Fountains along the path should be a priority, and they should be placed in areas where folks either can pull over and not block the path, or where they’d be stopping anyway, like near an intersection–perhaps the island by the little gas station and/or in front of Rail.
One somewhere by the five way intersection would be great, and one in or near the cemetery.
I don’t care what they look like, I’m just glad they’re putting in more! And, hopefully, fixing the ones that don’t work. Nothing is more frustrating than needing water and finding the fountain turned off/broken. I always take a water bottle with me, but on hot days or on longer runs, I may need to refill.
It’s astonishing how many cities and counties go to all the trouble of building beautiful riverwalks, trails, paths, parks, etc., and invite the public to use them, but then don’t provide for water or bathrooms along the way. Just seems like really poor planning. Thank you Decatur for doing your part to fix this!
pencils down
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dFP5m5ghA3I/SoyyNUv2SvI/AAAAAAAABHg/FcigNxMYMfk/s400/D.+Pursley-531.jpg
Wow. I don’t think the juvenile delinquents will put sticks in the spigot of this one!
AWESOME
One of my strongest memories growing up in Decatur is the water fountains in the old courthouse. You could always cool off from the summer heat (there was little air conditioning in Decatur in the Fifties) by visiting the courthouse and having a long drink of ice-cold water from the fountain. And it was always ice cold! There were two fountains near the north entrance (segregation was the law), plus “colored only/white only” signs.
I don’t think the old courthouse has a public water fountain today but doesn’t city hall?
Ice-cold water fountains–now that’s a real luxury! And even rarer than water fountains, public restrooms, mailboxes, and pay phones!
Hi Folks,
I actually volunteered to be on this Committee. Hopefully, I’ll get to serve and provide input. I’m enjoying reading the posts. Obviously, I’m for water fountains throughout the city, especially in green spaces and near trails. I would love to go to the first meeting armed with some soild location suggestions. How about it DM devotees? Can you provide some favored locations for water fountains? Thanks!