See the water finally flowing in Finlay Park’s iconic Columbia fountain (VIDEO)
The grand reopening of Columbia’s Finlay Park — once considered the “crown jewel” of the city’s parks system — may still be a couple of weeks away, but on Monday an iconic piece of the park could be seen gushing once more.
The spiral fountain on the top of the hill at the northern part of Finlay Park — which has been dry for the better part of a decade — was flowing once again on Monday afternoon when a reporter went by. The fountain and its cascading apparatus haven’t been on full display in years at the park, but it has long been a symbol used in various promotional materials and photographs in Columbia.
While Finlay Park remains closed amid extensive renovations, the functioning fountain was visible from Laurel Street on Monday.
The park, which is bordered by Laurel, Gadsden, Assembly and Taylor streets near the U.S. Post Office in the heart of downtown Columbia, is in the midst of a $24 million overhaul. The city broke ground on the project in 2023, with work including the restoration of the iconic fountain, the addition of “strolling gardens,” new event space, playground equipment and more.
Also among the improvements at Finlay Park will be a new-and-improved stage, security measures including cameras and call boxes, and public art installations.
The park will have a grand reopening on Nov. 15 with a host of events, including this year’s Jam Room Music Festival. The festival announced that it will present 10 acts on two stages, including the park’s brand-new amphitheater. Hopkins native and current “America’s Got Talent” contestant Steve Ray Ladson and cult indie rock band Silkworm will be featured among the performers.
This story was originally published November 3, 2025 at 1:22 PM.
