Fountain Restored At Tulsa's Swan Lake: 'The Neighborhood Has Worked Towards This For Years'

A fountain that was a symbol of early progress in Tulsa turned into an example of failed infrastructure.

The Swan Lake fountain hasn't worked in more than a decade. But after years of dysfunction, a lot of people are happy to see it back in working order.

"It's great, the neighborhood has worked towards this for years and years," said resident Dick Sherry.

Dick and Trish Sherry have a long history at Swan Lake, with family photographs there from the 1920s.

The neighbors turned out to see it running, a fountain flowing in the heart of their neighborhood.

The City is spending $2.2 million to rebuild the fountain and restore the lake to a healthy ecosystem, after years of neglect.

"It's been really fantastic to watch from start to finish and it can't get any better than that, we have water," said Lindsey Ciettlow of Tulsa.

The challenge for the City was to make repairs without making things worse.

Once the restoration of the lake is complete, actual swans might return, not just white ducks, or concrete duplicates.

That's the future, of a place with a long history.

Related: Tulsa's Swan Lake Park Begins Renovations, Including New Fountains