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Community group proposes nonprofit to restore Mabel Ringling Fountain in Sarasota
Summary
A local preservation group told the Parks, Recreation and Environmental Protection Board Jan. 22 that it will form a nonprofit, launch fundraising and seek to restore the Mabel Ringling Fountain — estimating roughly $50,000 to restart fountain operations and citing a previous $200,000 rebuild. The board discussed maintenance and security concerns.
Randy Kowalski, speaking for the Sarasota Historic Alliance (identified himself during public comment), told the Parks, Recreation and Environmental Protection Board on Jan. 22 that his group will form a nonprofit, "Miracle on Mound," to restore the Mabel Ringling Fountain and coordinate local stakeholders.
Kowalski outlined the fountain’s history and past work: he said a community rehabilitation carried out in roughly 2011–2013 cost the equivalent of about $200,000 ("we spent the equivalent of $200,000 to rehab it," he said). He said the city and the utilities department later declined long‑term maintenance and that the Alliance has…
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