Lighting improved at historic Kenan Fountain | Community Spirit

WILMINGTON, NC (WECT) – Things are looking a little brighter for the Kenan Fountain on Market Street after improved lighting around it was installed this week.

According to Wilmington spokesperson Malissa Talbert, after a car crashed into the fountain last summer, city council looked into how to reduce accidents at the fountain.

In November, city council approved funding for the lighting to make it more visible to drivers.

New lights weren’t added, but older fixtures on the intersection’s traffic poles and on the base of the fountain were replaced with brighter LED lights, which are also said to be more energy efficient. The light replacements cost $8,300.

Additionally, in December, structural repairs were made to the limestone after the car hit the fountain and damaged its stonework. The stonework had to be re-carved by hand, and structural repairs to the fountain came to a total of $73,875.

The fountain’s water, currently shut off to prevent pipes from freezing, will be turned on in March.

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