Animation of planned fountains
Main Plaza to get fancy fountains
Web Posted: 05/16/2007 09:43 PM CDT
http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/met...t.3180a7e.html
Laura Jesse
Express-News
The City Council will vote today [Thursday] on a package of items dealing with the redevelopment of Main Plaza, including acceptance of a $2 million donation from the Tobin Endowment.
Mayor Phil Hardberger announced the gift Wednesday in a news conference complete with animation of what the donation will pay for — five interactive fountains that use not only water, but also music and light for dramatic effect.
Kids big and small will be encouraged to play in them, Hardberger added.
Hardberger described the late Robert Tobin as a man who had a deep appreciation for all things theatrical.
"Theater has a much larger view because many things in life are theater on a grand scale," Hardberger said. "The fountains will bring together lighting, water and sheer, unadulterated drama."
Animation
Animation of plans for Main Plaza
The water will shoot up from five shallow pools, and the spurts of water can be coordinated in different patterns or synchronized to music, said architect Ted Flato.
"It will be something all of us in San Antonio will enjoy exploring throughout the year," Flato said, adding the pools will "give incredible reflections of the buildings around the plaza."
Former Mayor Lila Cockrell, who is also president of the San Antonio Parks Foundation, said she was a council member in the 1960s when then-Mayor Walter McAllister gave the city the fountain currently in the plaza.
"We all thought that was just a wonderful gift," Cockrell said. "But, wow! This is just going to be gorgeous."