CBS2 Demanding Answers: What's In The Foley Square Fountain?
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A big orange construction cone, trash and green, murky water -- all flowing in a filthy fountain in Lower Manhattan.
Visitors say the fountain is disgusting, so CBS2's Sonia Rincon went to find out why it has been left looking so polluted.
If you've been by the fountain in Foley Square lately, you've probably noticed the cloudy green water.
The fountain outside the iconic New York courthouses is part of a sculpture called "Triumph of the Human Spirit," Rincon reported.
From a distance, it's inviting. But up close, it's gross.
"That water is so filthy," said Natalie Hood.
"I usually don't see fountains this dirty. This is like, really bad," said one man.
"Hopefully we're not inhaling anything from it evaporating in the sun," said Lena Massenburg.
It's also tempting for kids, making parents cringe.
When Rincon asked, "You wouldn't want your daughter getting close to that water?" one parent quickly said "no."
CBS2 reached out to the Department of Parks and Recreation, which said the fountain does get drained and deep cleaned once a year, and it gets replenished and skimmed once a week.
Sure enough, a few hours later, a Parks Department worker came along and picked out the junk with a net, Rincon reported.
The worker was unauthorized to speak with CBS2, but the Parks Department said the weekly cleanings don't get the green out, which is actually algae blooming in the hot sunny weather. There are also chemicals the department uses to clean it.
But folks said there's still no excuse for the fountain to look like it does.
"They should do something about that; in a nice area like this, all these nice buildings, right by the courthouse, come on," Hood said.
The Parks Department said the fountain's annual deep clean isn't coming up until October. But it should look a little less green once the heat subsides and algae treating chemicals kick in.
The Parks Department also said it welcomes 311 calls from the public if anything looks like it needs attention.
