(Nov. 2) -- A new project will see the installation of a fountain in Malone Park.

During Monday’s Sikeston City Council meeting, Mari Ann Moyers of the Historic Downtown Design Committee, was on hand to get approval from Council to install a fountain in the middle of Malone Park.

She said that the project was brought to them for the Sharp family, who wanted to do a project for Downtown Sikeston in honor of their father, Clay LaValle Sharp Jr.

“This was their idea,” Moyers said. “We loved the idea, especially with what DAEOC is doing there. There will be increased traffic and with the addition of the healing garden, it will really finish out the park.”

The fountain would be similar in nature, but smaller in scale, to the fountain in Forsyth Park in Savannah, Georgia.

Moyers said the fountain is granite, and not concrete, so it will last longer.

“We wanted it to be as nice as possible for – well, forever. (The fountain) will be coming from Florida by semi-truck and we’re hiring somebody to install it,” Moyers said.

The circular fountain will be encircled by a decorative fence and a concrete circular patio with benches for enjoying the fountain.

“We’ve had such a big response to the Healing Garden, which is also part of the design team, there are a lot of people who like to offer benches, plantings and lights and we hope to put up historical markers and keep layering as gifts come in,” Moyers said.

The construction of the project will happen at no expense to the City of Sikeston. The city will only be responsible for ongoing upkeep and maintenance, including winterization. The fountain will be on a recirculation system and will not be a burden on the city water supply.