A spectacular water feature can greatly enhance any urban environment. Installing a dramatic water design is a great way to involve the community in memorializing a prominent person. Recently, we had the chance to work on such a project. The site is located in California and serves as a great example of how a city can increase the aesthetic appeal of the neighborhood by installing a memorial fountain. In this case, the large size of the water feature contributes to its grandeur. The fountain has proven to be a fitting memorial that honors two truly remarkable people. A Fitting Memorial The City of Compton built a bell tower across the street from City Hall and next to the Metro-rail center of town. The tower had semi-circular stairs stepping up to the base with three large gold lions guarding the two ends and the middle. The mayor and city council wanted to create a grand fountain in memoriam of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Caesar Chavez. The contractor?EUR??,,????'???s job was to integrate a new fountain with all its extensive plumbing and features, into the existing tower and bowl. The interior of the 40x20 foot bowl had to be reinforced with #4 steel and bent up the sides and around the center pedestal. The steel also tied into the six foot high curved wall that ran 47 feet along the back of the bowl. The bowl was then shot with gunite to create a water pond. The 12x12 foot marble was installed along the curved back wall, and the basin was then covered with Black Marble Pebble-tech. The black Marble wall reflected the muted glitter of the rocks in the Pebble-tech, and the resulting effect is a reflection pond with a seemingly endless bottom. One of the most difficult aspects of the construction was the technical requirements for the plumbing and the sheeting cascade. The hydraulic requirements for a 47 feet long cascade of water from a six foot high wall were intense. Although only one 2 HP pump was needed to circulate the water and run the two bubblers in the basin, the top water feature demanded four 4 HP pumps just to reach the 2,400 gallons per minute needed to push the water through the system and the stainless steel lip to create a continuous curtain of water falling into the black basin below. The only spot for the equipment location was directly behind the fountain?EUR??,,????'???s back wall which was also next to the entrance to a strip mall. The equipment couldn?EUR??,,????'???t be vaulted underground, so a large rod iron grate cage had to be developed to house the equipment and protect it. The installation of four inch plumbing into an existing concrete bowl required many core holes, saw cuts, and inventive placements. Crowd Control There was another factor which complicated the project. Construction in such a tight and urban environment with constant public access demanded more caution and security than usual. The day the manifold arrived, which was manufactured by Custom Cascade, a crowd congregated around the bowl to watch the installation. The manifold was delivered as four stainless steel pieces, each approximately 12 feet long. The pieces were then lifted to the top of the wall and welded together on-site as they were secured into the top edge. Every inch of the cascade had to be dead level and without any dents or the water wouldn?EUR??,,????'???t sheet evenly. It was an arduous task, but the result was fabulous. The construction deadline was definite, as a grand opening had been scheduled. The event was a combination of block party and community affair. The streets were filled with neighborhood vendors, food tables, and a large stage where the choirs from the local schools and churches performed. The mayor and each city council member gave a speech drawing attention to the plagues surrounding the fountain. In addition to the two large plagues honoring Martin Luther King, Jr. and Caesar Chavez, smaller ones had been imbedded into the planter wall circling the fountain steps. Each one had the name of a Compton citizen who had made a great contribution to the city and its people. At the finale of the program, the cascade was started and the rushing falls produced a thunderous crashing emphasizing the size and power of the water. It was truly wonderful to have been part of such a remarkable project. About the Author: Marti Beard is the co-owner Pure Water Pools, LLC located in Costa Mesa, Calif.