$100K is needed for fountain’s restoration
‘Treasure’ hasn’t been functioning for more than 15 years
The oldest fountain in Palos Verdes Estates hasn’t worked in more than 15 years — but that could change soon.
The Palos Verdes Estates Foundation has launched an effort to raise $100,000 to repair, upgrade and fix cosmetic issues for the more than 90-year-old city landmark known as the Farnham Martin Fountain.
“Restoring the fountain is near and dear to our hearts,” said foundation spokeswoman Karen Logan. “The fountain is a treasure for our residents.”
The Farnham Martin Park and Fountain, adjacent to the Malaga Cove Library, was dedicated in the late 1920s to honor Farnham B. Martin, a landscape artist and superintendent of parks who was responsible for the variety of trees and shrubbery growing throughout Lunada Bay, according to the foundation’s website.
The park and fountain were designed by the Olmsted brothers. Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. was one of the urban designers of Palos Verdes Estates in the early 1920s. Olmsted and his brother, John Charles Olmsted, formed the Olmsted Brothers firm following the death of
their father, Frederick Olmsted, a landscape architect renowned for, among other projects, Central Park in New York.
The foundation’s hope, Logan said, is to raise enough money to not only repair the fountain but also pay for future upkeep as well. Their goal is to quickly raise the money for the project, which could take up to 90 days to complete.
“We would like to raise the money in the next couple, three weeks,” Logan said, “so that we can have that (project) done before the end of the year, so we can celebrate the holidays.”
Palos Verdes Estates civic leaders and volunteers formed the nonprofit foundation to jump-start beautification, cultural and other projects across the city. Other projects have included refurbishing the Olmsted Place sign in Malaga Cove Plaza and installing new landscaping and restoring the city sign at the City Hall median.
The city’s other notable fountain, the Neptune fountain, is part of Malaga Cove Plaza, which is a step away from being listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Information: pvefoundation.org