Located at the heart of the Thornton Park neighborhood in Orlando, Florida, the Thornton Park Fountain has become means of connection and identity for the entire community. By imagining what it would mean to create a new landmark for the community, it has come to define Thornton Park in multiple ways that resonate to both residents and visitors, serving as a true attraction in a space that would otherwise be empty or plain.
Reimagining the Neighborhood
The Thornton Park neighborhood is home to a variety of sidewalk shops, exclusive restaurants and high-end fashion stores. Residing just a few blocks from the heart of downtown Orlando, it has become one of the most distinct neighborhoods in the city, featuring an incredibly diverse mix of people. This diversity compelled a revamp of the neighborhood to make it that much more of a community.
In 1999, the “Taste of Thornton Park Event” was organized specifically to raise enough money to purchase the Thornton Park Fountain that defined this neighborhood revamp. After several types of styles and fountains were considered, a model of the La Fontaine Louvois in Paris was chosen. This original is much larger than the Thornton Park model but the figures identically represent the 4 great rivers of France, with the names of each displayed under every figure. This connection is also why the piece is known as the Four Rivers Fountain.
Showcasing the strength of community influence on monuments, a local resident, Lee Pharr, was instrumental in the functionality of the Thornton Park Fountain. Resident John Moore was the project manager and became dedicated to taking care of upkeep around the fountain.
The endeavor to create such a distinct monument in the heart of Thornton Park has allowed it to become a means of identity for the entire neighborhood, with multiple businesses using imagery from the fountain for a variety of purposes. These community connections are in addition to the physical experiences audiences can have by going right up to the fountain, showcasing the continued influence that such an imaginative approach to landmarks can enable.
Imagining a New Use of Otherwise Space
The creation of traffic-calming roundabout collars provided the space for the installation of countless monuments across Orlando but the Thornton Park Fountain is one of the only ones that imagined how this space could be utilized for the benefit of an entire community. Recognized as one of the most important neighborhoods that provides Orlando residents and visitors with a variety of activities, the Thornton Park Fountain has become an essential means of connection for these activities, highlighting how such pieces can make a positive impact on the hearts and minds of audiences across the eras.
