The Whitby Library Fountain has become the subject of widespread public discussion as residents consider what should happen to the long-inactive feature outside the Central branch of the Whitby Public Library.
The fountain, which was designed as a work of public art, has not operated for more than five years. Repair estimates reportedly range from approximately $2 million to $3 million, raising questions about whether restoring it would be an appropriate use of public funds.
Whitby Ward 3 Councillor Niki Lundquist brought the issue to residents through a post on her Facebook page after being asked what the town planned to do with the fountain.
The response was much larger than expected. Lundquist said the post attracted approximately 13,000 views and generated numerous comments and suggestions from residents.
Residents interested in neglected space
Lundquist said the public response demonstrated that residents care about the area outside the library and do not want the space to continue appearing broken or neglected.
The fountain is located in a prominent downtown civic space outside the Central library branch. Its continued inactivity has made it a visible issue for library visitors, nearby residents and people travelling through downtown Whitby.
Many commenters reportedly agreed that spending as much as $3 million to restore the original fountain would be difficult to justify.
Residents instead suggested several alternative uses for the space, including planting shade trees, installing a new piece of public artwork or creating another feature that would complement the library building.
Pond proposal faces practical concerns
One suggestion involved replacing the fountain with a pond or another water feature.
Lundquist said that option would likely face the same problem that contributed to the original fountain being shut down. Concerns have existed that leaking water could enter the library building and cause damage.
Any replacement involving water would therefore need to address the existing drainage, waterproofing and structural concerns before moving forward.
The high repair estimate may reflect the complexity of fixing the fountain while protecting the neighbouring library infrastructure.
Fundraising suggested by residents
Some residents suggested launching a fundraising campaign to help repair the Whitby Library Fountain or finance an alternative design.
Lundquist said she was not opposed to exploring community fundraising. However, she acknowledged that raising approximately $2 million would be challenging, particularly when many residents are already facing financial pressure.
A fundraising campaign could potentially support a smaller public-art installation or landscape improvements rather than attempting to cover the full cost of restoring the fountain.
No formal fundraising effort or replacement plan has been announced.
Public art remains an option
Replacing the inactive fountain with another piece of public art is also being considered as a possible option.
Lundquist said any future installation should respect the architecture of the library and the surrounding downtown environment. Cost would also need to remain a central consideration because residents may not support a large new expense.
Shade trees could create a more comfortable gathering area while requiring less maintenance than a mechanical water feature. A combination of landscaping, seating and public art could also provide a practical alternative.
However, the town has not selected a preferred option or approved funding for changes to the site.
Fountain remains in limbo
For now, the Whitby Library Fountain remains inactive while public discussion continues.
The strong response to Lundquist’s post suggests residents want the municipality to make a decision rather than leave the space unchanged indefinitely.
Possible next steps could include a formal condition assessment, a public consultation process, preliminary designs and a comparison of repair and replacement costs.
Until Whitby Council or municipal staff advance a proposal, the future of the fountain and the surrounding space remains uncertain.
