ORIGINALLY WRITTEN JERRY ENGLER
Water is flowing into the newly excavated ponds for the Brooker Spring development in Marion Central Park as the project nears completion.
Whether it’s from the old spring that once attracted wagon trains on the Santa Fe Trail, and hasn’t flowed for years, nobody can say. The water isn’t coming, as has been rumored, from flushing the city water tower by the high school, said Harvey Sanders, city utilities superintendent.
Dale Haury, landscape manager for Scenic Landscapes from Wichita, the company contracted for the project, said he has to remove excess water by sump pump to continue installing rocks and plants.
He is working along an expanse of stone wall along the east side of the park, some of it exposed for the first time since the 1950s when flood till was left in the park, after the city crew excavated dirt three feet deep in places.
Haury expected to be done with the major portions of his work this week, and completely done in September before Virginia Brooker returns to dedicate it at 12:45 the 29th on Old Settlers’ Day.
Her husband, Paul Brooker, began the project with a donation of $50,000 to the city to restore the spring.
The spring’s design uses a natural look with stone, and native flora such as redbud trees and gooseberries.
Two ponds with a stream have been dug that will channel run-off water as well as use a pipeline and pumps to recycle water.
Stones from a historic county bridge southwest of Marion are being used as part of the project.
