The Dragon Fountain in Pardubice awaits repair, it has been out of order for the second year

Pardubice - The fountain in Bubeníkovy Sady in Pardubice needs a general overhaul; it has been out of order since last year. The costs are likely to be high, so its repair may not be worthwhile. This was stated by the mayor of the first city district, Filip Šťastný (ANO). The water feature has an unusual shape, resembling parts of a dragon's body. It has been in place for almost 30 years.

"Last year, the fountain did not start up, and it did not work during the last season. The expert assessment points out the defects present. We are having an assessment done on how much the reconstruction of the water feature would cost, and we will decide what to do next based on the price," said the mayor.

The first problem is that one basin is cracked because there are no foundations underneath it, and they may need to be added. A more serious issue is the non-functional technology.

"The pumps and piping have worn out. They are original. We don't have spare parts for it, and there is no one who can fix it; a complete exchange of technology is needed. It is a huge intervention into the water feature; we are talking about several months of reconstruction. We are checking if the cost will not be too high, as it might be cheaper to build a new water feature," Šťastný said.

The fountain has not worked in the past either. The district ensured the stability of one basin that was sinking, and it was also necessary to replace the cladding. Fountains are usually built from stone parts; in Bubeníkovy Sady, it is made from sprayed concrete. It is finished in pastel shades of gray, blue, pink, and yellow.

Bubeníkovy Sady is named after Mayor Václav Bubeník and became the first public park in the city. It was created on the right bank of the Chrudimka River in the city center between 1879 and 1880. The park originally only had a rectangular basin.

In 1995, a city foundation paid for the construction of a sculptural fountain with large horns from which water sprays. It is not allowed to enter the fountain built according to the design of architect Petr David. However, its structure attracts children, who often play on it and climb over it.