Franklin Square. Photo credit: Matt Mues

South End fountains have sprung up again this week after being nonfunctional for nearly a month. Residents reported that many of their local fountains have not been working, despite the city government’s goal to turn them on by Memorial Day.

According to one resident, nonfunctional fountains are not unique this year, but have instead been a constant problem throughout the South End.

“It's been going on for three years now, and way before that,” said Chris Coveney, who has lived in the South End for over 25 years. “It's really frustrating. No one seems to take any interest in making sure these things work. I shouldn't have to bug the city every year to get them working. It's ridiculous that the city can't maintain their own stuff.”

Coveney lives close to Blackstone and Franklin Squares on Washington Street and frequently posts updates on the state of their fountains to the South End Community Board Facebook group.

“I specifically notice Franklin and Blackstone Squares because I live right nearby them,” Coveney said. “But I know it's been an issue with the Chester Square fountains as well, probably all over the city.”

The Blackstone and Franklin Square Neighborhood Association stated in a Facebook post on May 23 that the Blackstone Square fountain was not working because its plumbing was damaged.

“At our May meeting last week, a representative of the Parks Department told us that the Blackstone fountain sustained damage to its plumbing over the past winter,” the post stated. “Bids are being sought for the repairs and a contractor selected shortly. The expectation is that work will be completed in the next several weeks and Blackstone fountain should be working properly in a month or so.”

Coveney said that the Blackstone Square fountain had been turned on around June 6, but that it was off by June 15. On June 21, he saw a plumber repairing the fountain, which was working again by June 25.

Other South End groups have made announcements about their local fountains being under repair. The Union Park Neighborhood Association wrote in a Facebook post on June 5 that new parts had been ordered for the park’s fountain.

“We cannot run the fountains until the new parts are delivered and installed,” the post stated. “We hope that everything will be up and running by July!”

Due to Independence Day, the Boston Parks and Recreation Department did not respond to a request for comment on how the city maintains its fountains.

“It's not a big deal,” Coveney said. “There’s much worse things going on in the city. Mass. and Cass is a much bigger problem for the South End. But it's one of those small quality-of-life things that makes everybody's life better, and as a taxpayer and a resident for 25 years, it's really frustrating that the city can't do basic services like keep their fountains running.”