The Columbus City Council on Monday approved funding for the restoration of the Franklin Park Cascades, a popular feature near the southern edge of the Near East Side park.
The $323,000 allocation will pay for a new pumping system, as well as a small structure to hold the new pump.
Brian Hoyt, Communications and Marketing Manager of the Columbus Department of Recreation and Parks, said that water should be flowing over the cascades again by mid to late summer.
“The cascades were constructed in 1991 for Ameriflora, and looking back, they were probably not constructed to last as long as they did,” said Hoyt, adding that the city had to shut the falls down over a year ago after temporary fixes failed to fix the problem.
The funding from council will also pay for the repair of any leaks or defects that come to light after the water is turned on.
Hoyt said that a second phase of the project, which would involve additional landscaping and improvements to the area between the park’s two ponds, will likely be designed this fall and completed in early 2018.
James Flannery, President of the Franklin Park Civic Association, is excited for the return of cascades.
“The residents of our historic Franklin Park neighborhood, residents of the Near East Side, and the many thousands of annual visitors to the Park and Conservatory will be thrilled to have the cascades returned to full working order,” he said, adding “we are fortunate to have this tranquil feature so nearby!”