jones park fountain - East St. Louis Action Research Project

EMMA L. WILSON KING MEMORIAL FOUNTAIN
JONES PARK LAGOON
PROPOSAL: ALEC CASHMAN
This design recreates the Jones Park Fountain in the image of Mrs. King, her
welcoming personality, love for the community of East St. Louis, and love of gardening
and nature.
In this design, the lily fountain becomes an inviting destination and focal point for
Jones Park and East St. Louis. The west end of the site, facing the road, is composed of a
visual or ceremonial entry. It is a 35’ wide grass entry that is lined by boxwood shrubs
and Mrs. King’s beloved flowering roses. The rows of plantings will direct your view
toward the fountain, while providing an unobstructed view from the road and the rest of
the park. This area has the potential to be a wonderful setting for spring weddings and
other ceremonies. It can accommodate over 300 people, with a central isle and a patio for
the head of the ceremony.
The path system used in the design is also meant to accentuate the fountain as an
inviting focus to the park. The path on the north side of the fountain is a copy of the
existing tree lined path on the south end. Both connect to paths, across the street, that
continue throughout the park. This continuation of the path system makes the fountain
easily accessible and the destination of the existing paths in the park. The tree-lined
paths with the canopy overhead produce a wonderful approach to the fountain.
This design builds a setting at the Jones Park Fountain where personal
contemplation and group activities can both be enjoyed. A series of patios has been
designed immediately around the lily fountain. On the north and south sides, the main
patio is divided into two areas. Closer to the fountain is a smaller sitting area that has an
arched seat wall that is backed by a row of boxwood shrubs and flowering roses. These
smaller areas are intended for more personal contemplation and close viewing of the lily
fountain. The larger patio sections are backed by seat walls, overhead lighting and
provide a space for larger group activities and receptions.
Encircling the fountain, a concrete path connects the patios and provides an area
to continuously walk around the fountain without difficulty. This path is edged with the
donation bricks raised by the Emma L. Wilson King Foundation that can all be viewed as
one walks around the fountain. This donation brick edge also includes lighting set into
the curb that illuminates the path.
At the east end of the fountain is a memorial to Mrs. King. This memorial area
includes a trellis covered brick patio with a seat wall. In the center of the seat wall,
facing the fountain, a bronze sculpture in the shape of an open book will be placed
memorializing Mrs. King. This piece of sculpture may include a relief image of Mrs.
King, biblical verses and other remembrances. Behind this memorial is the “family tree.”
In the center will be a flowering Magnolia and it will be flanked by twelve flowering
Dogwoods. The Magnolia, which is the biggest of the trees and the first to bloom in the
spring, represents Mr. and Mrs. King. The twelve flowering Dogwoods, which begin to
bloom after the Magnolia, represent the twelve children, their families and the continuing
growth of Emma L. Wilson King’s legacy.
Alec Cashman