Delay drags on for waterfront Peace Fountain replacement

The new Peace Fountain has been delayed, according to city officials, and is stuck in the design phase.

It’s now been more than two and a half years since the Charles Brooks Memorial Peace Fountain disappeared from the city’s waterfront — and there’s still no clear date for its return.

City officials had once hoped to unveil a new fountain on Sept. 21, 2026, the International Day of Peace, but the project is still in the design phase.

The original fountain was removed in September 2023 due to mounting maintenance concerns tied to its age.

On Nov. 25, 2024, council approved a $10.5 million plan to replace it with a new floating fountain, designed to closely resemble the original landmark many residents remember.

The city says the new fountain will feature modern upgrades, including LED lighting and more energy-efficient pumps. The plan is to send the project out for tender later this spring, with early site work potentially beginning this summer while construction happens offsite.

Under that timeline, the fountain isn’t expected to be operational until fall 2027.

For now, the prominent waterfront space where the fountain once stood remains empty.