SCCCC members refreshed by fountain update

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Longwood Gardens' version of Boston's 'Big Dig' will result in a spectacular, updated display that pays homage to founder Pierre du Pont's vision while keeping pace with technology, officials say.

Members of the Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce (SCCCC) received welcome insight on Thursday into Longwood Gardens’ 2 ½-year, $90 million undertaking, “New Heights: The Fountain Revitalization Project.”

Longwood Gardens' representatives Patricia Evans (left) and Nick D'Dazzio confer before addressing the Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce.
Longwood Gardens' representatives Patricia Evans (left) and Nick D'Dazzio confer before addressing the Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce.

Longwood representatives made a presentation at the chamber’s popular Network at Noon event, held at the Hartefeld National Golf Club. The event is designed to help area businesspeople forge lasting relationships in the community.

Noting the appropriateness of discussing Longwood’s refreshing water display on a sweltering day, Patricia Evans, Longwood’s communications manager, offered illustrations to show why the signature fountain’s 83-year-old infrastructure needed refurbishing. About 2,000 pieces of deteriorating limestone are being restored at a masonry company in Conshohocken, she said.

Evans also showed examples of how the project’s final results will improve on Pierre S. du Pont’s design while maintaining its integrity. Changes in technology since 1931 will enable the gardens to increase the number of water jets from 380 to 1,700. The new jets will not only shoot the display higher but with new designs, such as basket-weave and oscillating patterns; 30 will even culminate with flames.

Members of the Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce mingle during Network at Noon at the Hartefeld National
Members of the Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce mingle during Network at Noon at the Hartefeld National Golf Club.

Crews began working in October, and the reopening is scheduled for spring 2017. Evans said 90 percent of the work would occur underground in an effort to ensure that the tunnels that will house the equipment will be more accessible for maintenance.

Since the fountain is off-limits during the reconstruction, suspending the popular summer fountain and fireworks shows, Evans said Longwood worked hard to fill that void. She encouraged the audience to visit “Nightscape,” a multi-media nighttime show. “We are calling it indescribably different,” she said.

“Nightscape,” the work of Klip Collective, a Philadelphia videography firm, features original music and projections at nine locations in the gardens. Three locations are inside the conservatory; the others involve outside sites, such as the topiary garden and large lake. Nightscape runs Wednesdays through Saturdays with a start time – currently 9 p.m. – based on darkness.

SCCCC President Cheryl B. Kuhn thanked Longwood Gardens for the presentation and reminded the audience that the 20th SCCCC Scholarship Golf Tournament & Dinner will be held Monday, Aug. 10, at the Kennett Square Golf & Country Club. The event benefits the SCCCC scholarship fund, which awards three scholarships annually to high school students from the Avon Grove, Kennett, and Unionville-Chadds Ford school districts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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