The design is a drinking fountain and an outdoor class room. Water is represented via 2 glaciers made from cement. 3 Drinking spigots will come out from the walls at various heights to accommodate children, adults, and people with disabilities.

The glaciers will be an educational tool. Water will be spelled out in various languages. All the major oceans, seas, bays, lakes and rivers will be etched or painted on the surface. In addition, fossils, skeletons, shells, etc. will be cast into the cement. Quotes from Native Americans, religious leaders and philosophers regarding the importance of water in our lives will be printed on the walls.

A flower garden representing "the land" will receive the recycled water from the drinking fountain. The forests of the world will be represented by wood poles decorated with colored banners. The banners will not only add a festive feel to the area, but can be used to show wind and stimulate conversation about how wind and water are connected.
The 13 foot diameter area represents Earth. Grass and decorative rock paving stones will cover the area for access by pedestrians and people with disabilities

My proposal for the drinking fountain is a bronze sculpture depicting three otters playing. I depicted the one otter holding a fish in its mouth and would like to have the other at the top holding a clam in its hands as though it were about to wash it. Otters are very social, playful and curious creatures and are here in this sculpture as messengers from mother nature, to keep it clean.

I choose bronze for its beauty and longevity. The sinks and fountains would be stainless steel coming off the end of the bronze sculpture at about 34 inches from the ground and another shorter one for children would be at about 26 inches. Stainless steel would be superior to bronze for the sinks because over time, they would remain bright and clean while the bronze would discolor with continuous water contact. The bronze sculpture part will be a traditional brown-black patina.

A patio and fountain sculpture done with glass tile mosaic depicting a river or lake scene. Patio would have a concrete base with appropriate footer, and fountain sculpture would be cast in papercrete - a durable, lightweight construction material - in two parts to allow access to fountain plumbing for maintenance.

The actual shape of the mosaic patio will be determined by the topography of the area around the fountain and the desire not to greatly disturb the surrounding trees' roots. The shape of the fountain sculpture will be more sloped at the back of the fountain and will resemble a small sandbar with various animals that frequent the water's edge in lakes and rivers. Not all animals shown here would necessarily be used and others not shown here might be.

The shape at the front of the sculpture will be rather abrupt and upright so as not to interfere with access to the fountain.