Recently restored, the iconic fountain in downtown Bowling Green, Kentucky is a must-see for any newcomer to town! The park also underwent renovations, with another phase expected soon, so Fountain Square Park is truly the polished gem of Bowling Green and one of the city’s top spots for photos. A1 Pest Control of Bowling Green
Fountain Square Park’s vibrant history dates back to the Civil War. Plans for the park were drawn up in 1870. Today, the park sits in the middle of downtown square’s district. This park is a delightful sight to be seen year-round. Fountain Square Park is beautifully landscaped throughout the spring, summer, and fall months, displaying the season’s best vegetation and floral arrangements. It is the perfect place for a stroll, relaxing on one of the park benches, walking your dog or marrying your best friend. It is also home to various seasonal events, like Concerts in the Park in the summer or Downtown Lights Up! during the holiday season. During the holiday season, the park is lit with festive décor and lights for all to enjoy.
Fountain Square
Prohibitionists have marched around it, trolleys have encircled it, parades of all types-circus, military, historical, homecoming, Irish, political and patriotic- have taken place around it, scrap drives headquartered here, Civil War soldiers knew this place, hundreds of farm animals have been sold here as well as fine horses, pageants have been held here, veterans were welcomed home here, people have sold and traded every kind of item imaginable here, and buildings here have come and gone. No one familiar with local history can deny that Fountain Square is Bowling Green‘s touchstone to its past; it is certainly the community’s most endearing and enduring landmark.
Robert Moore, one of the area’s earliest citizens, donated two acres to Warren County for public buildings in 1797. On this site, a log courthouse was erected, and shortly after that, the county added a log jail, a stock and pillory, a log clerk’s office and a log market house. Around 1813 a new red brick courthouse was erected and crowned with a white cupola.
After the Civil war, county citizens made demands for a new courthouse. It is unclear why it was not erected on this site, but the city purchased a lot on the corner of Plain and Bridge Streets (10th and College) and traded that property for the old square.
A consensus was reached to create a park out of the old square. However, work had to await the completion of the new courthouse. The sale of $6,000 in bonds financed the park project. John Cox Underwood, an architect/engineer and the second mayor of Bowling Green, drew up a plan for the park in 1870. Underwood had planned to extend the park from Main Street to the new courthouse (occupying all of present Frozen Row or Park Row), but limited funds reduced the grandiose scheme to the present park site.
Address: 445 E Main Ave, Bowling Green, KY
Check out other attractions like Historic Railpark and Train Museum