<translation>Dračí fontána in Pardubice is awaiting a decision on an expensive renovation</translation>

Pardubice - The Dragon Fountain in Bubeníkovy Sady in Pardubice is in very poor condition, a report commissioned by the municipal district has revealed. If the city hall decides to repair it, it will not be a cheap affair. A decision is expected to be made this year. Mayor Filip Šťastný (ANO) told ČTK that the fountain, built in 1995, has been out of operation for the third season.

"We have prepared a structural and technical assessment. Unfortunately, it confirmed what we suspected, that the reconstruction carried out years ago was insufficient," said Šťastný.

The fountain is made of sprayed concrete, featuring pastel colors: gray, blue, pink, and yellow. Some see parts of a dragon's body in it, which is why it is called the Dragon Fountain. Large horns protrude from it, from which water once gushed when it was functional. It is closed due to serious structural defects.

"The nozzles are the only part of the fountain that is intact. They have a solid foundation. The rest of the pool structure is unevenly settling, causing cracks and water to leak inside, where the technology is located. If we want to repair it, we will have to remove the concrete down to the metal structure. The assessment could not tell us an estimate just by looking," the mayor said.

The fountain will be addressed by a city commission. They will either decide on a repair or seek alternative use for it. It could potentially become a playground feature for children. "I would really like to have a decision on what happens next this year. In any case, the repair would not be cheap. The fountain is made of pressure-sprayed concrete, breaking it is a significant challenge. A considerable part would need to be demolished and re-sprayed with concrete; we are talking about reconstructing the entire piece," said Šťastný.

An initiative called We Are for the Fountain! is striving to save the fountain. They were concerned that the city would demolish the water feature without engaging the public. It was designed by architect Petr David. While it is not intended for swimming, the architect designed it so that children could climb on it. The fountain was paid for by a city foundation in 1995. It was also taken out of service in the past; for example, from 2013 to 2014, it was necessary to ensure the stability of one basin that was sinking. The mosaic tiles were also replaced.