After years of fundraising and months of work, renovations to the pond and the area surrounding Bath’s Zorach fountain are complete.
“This is the most important piece of public art anywhere in the state of Maine,” said Linda Wood, president of The Friends of Zorach Fountain. “It’s finally getting the respect it deserves.”
The Friends of Zorach Fountain, a nonprofit group that has overseen the statue’s restoration and the driving force behind creating a proper environment surrounding it, will be hosting an event at the fountain this Sunday to celebrate the project’s completion.
The statue at the center of the fountain was restored a few years ago, but the surrounding area was plagued by drainage issues.
“This corner of the park is the lowest part, all the drainage comes down,” said Wood. “Half the time at Heritage Days you needed hip boots to be around here. So drainage was a big deal.”
The new surroundings were designed by Mark Jorgensen and Bruce John Riddell. Bath-based Jorgensen Landscaping worked from September throughout the winter.
Major changes include erecting frost walls, replacing the pond base surface and adding greenery. Plumbing for the pond has been updated as well.
“The water is so much cleaner. Remember the old days?” said Wood. “It was all algae and nasty, and the edges were all undercut. So I just think it’s a transformation — it’s fabulous.”
The statue centerpiece, named “the Spirit of the Sea,” was first installed in 1962. The fountain was designed and created by the internationally renowned artist and Georgetown resident William Zorach, who donated the statue to the city of Bath as a gift. The Bath Garden Club raised the necessary $15,000 to cover the expenses.
Much of the funding for renovating the fountain and the surrounding area, which is owned by the city, was raised from private donations, although the city did kick in with a municipal bond to support the project.
Going forward, however, Wood noted that it is yet to be decided whether the city or the nonprofit will do more work to maintain the site.
The event celebrating the project’s completion will be held at the park this Sunday at 3 p.m. Music, speeches and poetry will all be part of Sunday’s family-friendly program.
nstrout@timesrecord.com
Celebration
AN EVENT celebrating the project’s completion will be held at the Bath park this Sunday at 3 p.m. Music, speeches and poetry will all be part of the family friendly program.
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