One of my greatest sources of pride as your Mayor has been the appointment and the work of the City’s new Beautification Committee. Before recent events put a temporary halt to their momentum and accomplishments, the Committee sent out postcards to residents and businesses thanking them for beautifying their properties, worked with local schools to initiate an anti-littering campaign and has been cooperating with The Dalles Lions Club and Park District to restore the historic Vogt Fountain at Sorosis Park.
The Vogt Fountain was originally installed in our downtown in 1931 and used as a place to water horses and dogs. The fountain was relocated to Sorosis Park in 1966 and has served as the centerpiece for the park’s Rose Garden ever since.
Over the years, the fountain had fallen into disrepair and the Beautification Committee has led the charge to bring this historic icon back to it’s original glory. Once again the lights on top of the fountain are working and water is flowing out of the mouths of the four lions’ heads. Pavers immediately surrounding the fountain have been installed and a plan is now underway to replace the red rock in the Rose Garden with additional pavers.
The volunteer members of the City Beautification Committee are Tiffany Prince (chair), Max Butensky, Connie Krummrich, Bill Lennox, Judy Merrill, John Nelson and Brenda Coats (whose husband Don was instrumental in getting the fountain’s water to flow again). City Clerk Izetta Grossman is the staff liaison to the committee.
Commented