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Board confronts short deadline, costs to remove Heritage Park fountain ahead of construction
Summary
Board members and staff discussed conflicting quotes and a hard deadline to remove and store the Heritage Park fountain before nearby construction; options included paying contractors ($3,500–$16,000 estimates), fundraising, or accepting demolition if removal cannot be done by May 1.
Logansport Parks staff told the Parks and Recreation Board on April 9 that the department must remove the Heritage Park fountain before nearby construction begins at the end of April. Staff said available contractor estimates varied widely and the item is fragile, prompting concern about storage and restoration costs.
Staff reported a removal‑only quote of roughly $3,500 and higher quotes if the contractor is to remove, transport and restore the fountain off‑site — one firm quoted about $13,000 to remove and store the fountain for restoration; another quoted just over $16,000 to remove, repair and reinstall. Staff and board members described the piece as cast pig iron ordered from a catalog historically, not a unique artisan piece.
Board members repeatedly said the department lacks a secure, long‑term storage location and that the deadline is tight. “We need to figure out where we can store it between now and the end of this month because to me, it's not an option to leave it there at May 1 and it gets bulldozed over,” one board member said.
Several speakers proposed soliciting public donations or partnering with local historic groups. Staff suggested storing the fountain in a municipal facility if one can be located and said they will reach out to contractors and stakeholders immediately; one board member suggested asking the public for small donations ($5,000 target) to cover removal and storage if residents want to preserve the fountain.
Board members also discussed risk: staff said their crews do not feel comfortable dismantling the fountain and a private contractor with historic‑preservation experience would be required to avoid further damage. The board asked staff to identify storage options and to bring solid removal plans and cost estimates to the next meeting. Staff said they will pursue contractor quotes and public outreach; the board did not adopt a formal resolution on the fountain during the meeting.
