Supporters for clean water lined the north bank of the Chicago River with Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) officials to celebrate the reopening of an iconic landmark where the city’s prized lakefront meets the river and soaring skyline.

After completing extensive renovations, MWRD commissioners were joined by city leaders to reopen the Nicholas J. Melas Centennial Fountain on Aug. 16 to again captivate onlookers to the fountain and its cannon spraying an arc across the main stem of the Chicago River. Watch the ceremony. 

President Kari K. Steele and the MWRD Board of Commissioners welcomed special guests, including 2nd Ward Ald. Brian Hopkins, 27th Ward Ald. Walter Burnett, Jr., 42nd Ward Ald. Brendan Reilly, Chicago Department of Water Management Commissioner Randy Conner, Elizabeth Melas, the daughter of former MWRD Board president for whom the fountain is named, and architect Dirk Lohan, under the fountain at 400 N. McClurg Court for remarks during the reopening ceremony.

“This commemorative fountain enhances the beauty of the Chicago River and Lake Michigan. It is also a reminder of the importance of MWRD’s essential work and the impact our work and these water resources have on the development of the Chicago metropolitan area,” said President Steele. “Today the fountain stands as a testament to the MWRD's ongoing work to enhance the quality of the Chicago River, protect public health, and improve waterway ecology while serving as a welcoming landmark to Chicago.”

Built in 1989, the fountain commemorates the 100th anniversary of the MWRD and symbolizes a century of dedication and progress. During summertime, it is seen by boat, by foot from the Riverwalk, neighboring buildings and surrounding skyline, and by car on Lake Shore Drive, Columbus Drive and Wacker Drive. But at the height of the pandemic, it was damaged during storms. Once it became apparent that a full replacement of the fountain equipment was necessary, the MWRD started the long process of rebuilding the entire fountain.

The investments the MWRD has made in protecting local waterways has yielded positive results, cleaner waters for an increasing population of fish species and spurred economic development and activity on and along the river. Just as the river water quality has thrived, so too has the surrounding Streeterville community with its growing skyline and riverfront attraction. The Nicholas J. Melas Centennial Fountain symbolizes this movement for water quality and the work of the MWRD.

“We are thrilled to see the fountain and cannon once again gracing the Chicago River,” said MWRD Commissioner Dan Pogorzelski. “This fountain is more than just a visual landmark; it represents our century-long commitment to improving Chicago’s waterways for the benefit of public health, the environment, and our city’s vitality.”

During summer months, the fountain will send an 80-foot water arc across the river. There may be schedule modifications and/or intermittent shutdowns of the cannon as the MWRD continues to fine tune the operation of the fountain.

Speaking at the grand reopening, architect Dirk Lohan explained how the different pools of the fountain symbolized the flow of water meandering throughout the country. Following the reversal of the Chicago River to protect the quality of Lake Michigan, the water from Chicago flows downstream to the Des Plaines, Illinois and Mississippi rivers and eventually to the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean. The cannon serves as a welcoming landmark, he said.

“We decided to shoot a river cannon across the river and create a welcoming arch so any boaters, tourists or whoever sees it and experiences it, it will welcome them to the city of Chicago. At the same time, I also wanted to trigger some activity on the other side because it was undeveloped and not much was happening there,” Lohan said. “In the meantime, in the last 35 years, so much has happened. One of the tallest buildings [St. Regis Chicago] in Chicago is now across the river. It is a great venue now and I am absolutely convinced that people who visit Chicago will enjoy this again.”