Workers have been busy installing the bases for two new fountains in Abita Springs.

One of the fountains will be purely decorative and will be installed in the center of the traffic circle. The other will be functional and will allow residents and visitors a place to fill water jugs.

Historically, people have traveled from other areas to fill jugs with the free flowing artesian spring water.

Workers are waiting for the cement to cure on the base before installing the new springhead fountain. (Staff Photo by Suzanne Le Breton)

Up until recently people could drive their cars up to a fountain in the park, where water flowed from lions’ heads and people could fill their jugs.

However, when the park area underwent a facelift and the playground was built, vehicular access to the fountain was cut off.

Mayor Louis Fitzmorris said he still sees some people hauling jugs down to the fountain in wagons, but it has really caused a hardship for some, especially the elderly.

As part of their commitment to enriching the lives of those who live in or visit Abita Springs, the Friends of the Park have paid to purchase a springhead fountain. The town is working to install the fountain behind the small gazebo next to the traffic circle.

The fountain that was purchased is French provincial in style and has spouts on each side for water to flow out. It cost just over $5,000 is being bought from a company in New Orleans.

The Friends of the Park is paying for the fountain, and the town is paying for the installation.

Fitzmorris said his is negotiating with the owners of the adjacent property and hopes to be able to lease that lot. He said he would like to convert that area to a small pocket park with picnic tables and benches.

There will be parking provided along Louisiana Highway 36 for those wishing to fill jugs.

The fountain that will be placed inside the traffic circle will be an urn on a pedestal with a flare piece on top of it.

Fitzmorris said the castiron urn weights about 400 pounds.

He said the state Department of Transportation and Development did not want anything elaborate, and they approved this fountain.

“It’s basic, but it is still elegant,” Fitzmorris said.

The urn is a replica of the urns at the Louvre museum in Paris.

This fountain cost $7,000 and it is being funded using the money received from a grant received when the town resigned its franchise agreement with Cleco.

The area around the fountain will be landscaped with small azalea bushes and decorative fencing.

Lighting will also be added to the fountain, shining upward from the water in the pool below it.

“When it is all said and done it will look really nice. It is going to look gorgeous,” Fitzmorris said, acknowledging that it did take longer than it should have to get to this point.

However, he said, the traffic circle is state property and his hands were tied.