Water flowed once again from the iconic Lake Eola fountain downtown Orlando when Mayor Buddy Dyer turned on the pumps in a brief ceremony on Wednesday. The Orlando landmark, struck by lightening during a thunderstorm, has been dormant since August 2009.
In his remarks Mayor Dyer said that with summer approaching it was important to protect the shell of the fountain from sun, and water would help stop further deterioration.
Dyer said that the fountain would be operational every day from 8:00 am to 11:00 pm, although there might be periods when it will be turned off to allow for ongoing restoration. The fountain, once on, will have water flowing over the shell, with a plume of water approximately 60 feet in the air.
While restoration work is still ongoing, Dyer said that the city expects to have the fountain fully repaired by July 4th.
Earlier estimates for full restoration of the landmark have been put at over $1 million. The city expects to collect $250,000 from private insurance, while the balance will come from an emergency fund.
A state-of-the art system of lights and water jets at a cost of $2.3 million have also been discussed as part of a more expansive restoration project.
