Oceanside’s fountain, turned back on, comes into view

A five-foot high, decorative wrought iron fence erected around the Oceanside Civic Center’s large plaza’s fountains has finally come down.

The 400-foot of temporary blue fence was first erected in April of 2015 to help facilitate the draining, repairs and sealing of the fountains. Unfortunately once the $300,000 project was finished, the drought was in full swing. City staff recommended, under the governor’s water restriction order, that the fountains not be filled and turned back on.

The city finally declared their water crisis to be over last July when the fountains were turned back on, but the fence was not removed until now. “Having waited a long time, everyone around the city is ecstatic,” said Tony Visco, maintenance supervisor for the city’s Public Works department.  

“We just got the order from the city council this week,” said Visco, as the fence was being taken down on April 5.

The city continues to look to bring in a reclaimed water source, the closest being a current reclaimed water line at the front gate of Camp Pendleton, about 10 blocks north of the civic center.