The Horace E. Dodge Fountain, built in 1978 in Hart Plaza along the Detroit River, was once a proud symbol of the working heart of Detroit. Years of neglect, however, left it rusting and useless, more a symbol of decline than of dynamic industry in the motor city. In 2023, the city council allocated $5.6 million for its restoration. That’s a significant amount of money to restore a fountain, but to bring the Dodge Fountain back would require a significant effort.
“There is nothing normal about this fountain,” explains Luke Miller at Fountains by WaterWorks, the fountain renovation company in Ashton, Md., that led the renovation. “For example, this fountain has three vertical turbine pumps, the type used in large ships! The metal structure is comprised of huge stainless-steel panels that are usually used to make airplanes, and it has a 55,000-gallon reservoir tank.” Everything in the fountain was custom, from the plumbing, panels, bolts and fasteners to the types of metals and waterproofing agents used.
For design services and the majority of the equipment package, the project managers turned to Fountain People of San Marcos, Texas.
According to Bryan Had, Eastern Sales Engineer at Fountain People, important parts of the restoration included new, programmable LED fixtures, upgraded operational systems for precision control and additional functionality. The rejuvenated fountain circulation system moves water at a flow rate of 10,000 GPM through 18-inch piping, using one 250-hp pump and one 150-hp pump.
On June 13 of last year, the revivified fountain was officially presented in a grand opening ceremony attended by city officials. You can see it daily from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 to 10 p.m.
This article first appeared in the May 2025 issue of AQUA Magazine — the top resource for retailers, builders and service pros in the pool and spa industry. Subscriptions to the print magazine are free to all industry professionals. Click here to subscribe.
