|
|
|
Tuesday, Aug. 24, 1999
Landscape architects give awardrecognizing German Park's designBy GUY PRIEL Journal Staff Writer NEW ULM -- The much awaited angel fountain in German Park was unveiled during a Monday night concert as Schell's Hobo Band performed the National Anthem. "This fountain is a symbol of the unselfish dedication of the Friends of German Park," KNUJ radio announcer Brian Filzen. "They have spent countless hours obtaining this bronze fountain for the formal garden." The fountain will give German Park an even greater prominence in New Ulm. It will be a significant addition to the park's future development, which includes a waterfall, sidewalks, a second picnic shelter and a Kids Castle. The fountain, which apparently has never been used for water, was obtained from a company in Atlanta, through funds provided by an anonymous New Ulm resident, City Council Member Denis Warta said. "The fountain was inspected by the contractor, and it was acquired by a company, but there were no specific details to indicate that it had ever been used," City Manager Dick Salvati said. "The city has not actually been involved in the project." The cost for constructing the pool was approximately $81,090, with a total cost for the project totaling well over $100,000, Salvati said. "It is a very generous donation and will be a nice addition to the park," he said. "It has great detail that will even be more attractive at night when it is lighted." The fountain has three tiers, four figurines at the base, eight spouts, eight openings in the bowl and at the upper tier and a row of pillars along the bottom. The pool beneath the angel fountain was constructed by Olympic Pools of Shakopee. It has a radius of 30 feet and is about 2 feet deep. The work was begun in June and completed last week, Olympic Pools spokesman Brian Recker said. "The basin is constructed of fieldstone from a local farmer that was chosen to match the stone in the rest of the park," he said. "There is an underground mechanical vault containing the equipment for the fountain." In addition to the unveiling of the fountain, the Friends of German Park, represented by Dr. Ann Vogel, and the design firm of Barton-Aschman, represented by Scott Midness, who developed the master plan for German Park, received a medallion from representatives of the Minnesota chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects. "The medallion award is being given to German Park and the city of New Ulm in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the ASLA," Minnesota Chapter Spokesman Greg Kellenberger of Maple Plain said. The society was founded in 1899 by Frederick Law Olmsted, the well-known designer of New York's Central Park, as a way to foster a sense of shared community in the designs of parks and to recognize them for their rich history of landscape architecture. "I want to thank them for giving us this award," Vogel said. "This park is a dream of New Ulm. It took myriads of people to bring this together." There were a lot of people who worked behind the scenes to make German Park the success it is today and the award is one of the treasures that will become a signature piece of New Ulm, she said. "This is an outstanding design," she said. "It represents a place of beauty and family recreation and the park is a piece of excellence. It fits our background and speaks to our pride." The fountain will make the park reminiscent of the way it was in the 1800s, Vogel said. Angel fountain dedicated |