Manage Delivery
WaterWalk’s $1.5 million Waltzing Waters fountains underwent testing Thursday afternoon as the downtown Wichita project nears completion.
Commissioning testing began Thursday, about a week from completion of the second of three phases of public improvements at the $41 million development, said Joe Pajor, the city’s assistant director of public works and utilities.
“It’s a fairly intricate project to make sure that all the pieces fit together,” Pajor said.
The city and WaterWalk officials will coordinate a public rollout of the fountains later, Pajor said. The fountains produce a water show at least 15 minutes in length choreographed to music and lights, similar to Las Vegas-style casino shows.
“In generalities, we’re probably a week or so away to do whatever WaterWalk wants to do at this point,” Pajor said.
The fountains are the final scheduled improvement to the development, although Pajor said some conceptual drawings for an outdoor seating area have been done between Gander Mountain and the Boathouse. Formal council approval for that project is pending.
The fountains are part of a larger series of water features constructed by Total Habitat, a Kansas City-based company that builds natural swimming pools and water features. Total Habitat built the rock-ringed ponds on three sides of WaterWalk and the meandering pool that surrounds the fountains.
