Gerald R Ford Museum's Fountain and Pool Are Officially Gone

One of my favorite ArtPrize installations of all time was in 2011, when six wooden grizzly bears were installed in and around the fountain in front of the Gerald R. Ford Museum. The bears felt so natural there that, as a 12-year-old, I didn't realize the bears weren’t part of the fountain — until I wrote this, I had always wondered what happened to those bears, and I am only just now learning that they were there for only two weeks.

Oops.

Either way, the fountain and reflective pool outside the museum have long been staples of the area. However, it has remained empty for several years, and the fountain and pool have now been officially removed.

Why The Fountain Is Getting Removed

If you've visited the Gerald R. Ford Museum or walked along the riverfront recently, you'll notice that much of the area in front of the museum is fenced off as crews work to remove the water system from the ground. A 2021 engineering study, as reported by WoodTV, found that it would cost between $4 million and $7 million to repair the fountain, along with additional maintenance costs.

TSM

What Is Replacing The Fountain?

The space previously home to the massive fountain and pool will now be open to everyone, as renderings posted outside indicate that the museum will replace the area with an "expansive garden and green space" in a nod to Betty Ford's love of gardening. The green space is open to everyone for use as they see fit.

Tommy McNeill, Townsquare Media

This space is expected to be ready in spring 2026. You can explore five other major projects happening around Grand Rapids below.