Virginia Fountain Restoration

Committee Raising Funds to Restore Fountain

The Olcott Park Fountain built during the Great Depression has been a mainstay of the Virginia community, but budget cuts have the fountain without a splash for years.

The Olcott Park Fountain Restoration Committee has raised nearly $78,000 for the project and wants to raise $100,000 by August 2016.

The improvements will come in two phases. The first will make the fountain operational again. The second will add handicapped accessible walkways and security cameras.

“I hope they find it attractive. I hope they find it something they could be proud of. That’s really what I want. We’ve been through some hard times and this is a positive thing we’re trying to achieve,” said Fountain Restoration Committee Chairman Greg Gilness.

The fountain once showcased 360 color variations an hour and many want those memories on display once again.

“We’re hoping that it will be successful. I think it will be. We have a strong group of people that are very active and very committed to trying to get this project moving forward. A lot of times they say you can’t go back in time, things change. But in this particular instance you can,” said Virginia Mayor Larry Cuffe.

The total cost for the project is around $900,000. If all the funding goes to plan, the committee hopes to have shovels in the ground by the spring of 2017.

Donations for the fountain can be directed to the Virginia Community Foundation.