The Pardubice region is considering the fate of the iconic dragon fountain, waiting for an assessment

Pardubice - The Dragon Fountain in Bubeníkovy Sady in Pardubice has been out of operation for two seasons, deteriorating, and activists are concerned about its future. They wish for the city district to preserve it, whether as a fountain or to find another "dry" use for it. Šárka Zahálková, speaking on behalf of the initiative Za fontán(o)u, which she founded with her colleagues along with an electronic petition, stated this to ČTK. According to Mayor Filip Šťastný (ANO), the district does not want to bypass the public and will heed their voices.

The water feature was created by architect Petr David. It is made of sprayed concrete and has pastel colors: gray, blue, pink, and yellow. It stands out for its unusual shape, reminiscent of parts of a dragon's body to some. The intricate fountain has large horns from which water spouts when it is operational.

Its construction was funded by the city foundation in 1995. The Dragon Fountain has been non-functional in the past as well; for example, from 2013 to 2014, it was necessary to secure the structure of one basin that was sinking. The mosaic tiles were also replaced. Representatives of the initiative would like the district to listen to the people and engage in discussions with them.

"With this open letter, we want to express the interest of the Pardubice public in the future of this place. At the same time, we want to emphasize that the public cannot be ignored in decisions about such matters; rather, it is necessary to properly inform them about the planned steps," stated Zuzana Brettová, Anežka Koukolová, and Šárka Zahálková.

The city district is now having a construction-technical assessment prepared, which will specify what the fountain needs to be operational. It is expected to be completed this October, said the mayor.

"The initiative does not need to be concerned. We plan to involve citizens. If it turns out that the reconstruction is not complicated, that is our first clear option. If it turns out that the costs are astronomical and it does not make economic sense, we will discuss the dry option," said the mayor.

The district intends to propose that the fountain could be transformed into, for example, a playground for children or a large intricate flower pot with greenery. Its removal is the last option, one that the mayor hopes will not even come to pass. "Dismantling and building a new water feature is the last option," said the mayor.

According to the initiative, a dry version of the fountain is a solution. "If it turns out that the fountain is truly irreparable from a functional standpoint, we believe it can be reconstructed and sensitively adapted into a dry play feature. However, there are certainly many possible models, and it is necessary to think about and discuss them," Zahálková said.

The structure of the fountain attracts children; they often play on it and climb it. The architect intended it that way. "It was designed as a fountain that children can run around and ride bikes on. However, it was not designed for anyone to bathe in," said the mayor.

Some district councilors wanted to change the cleaning technology to pool technology, but according to Šťastný, that will not happen. "We do not want to go in that direction as a city district council," added the mayor. According to him, it would cause faster deterioration of the fountain and pose a greater risk of injury.