(haipo) - The fountains scattered throughout Haifa are an important and refreshing element in the city's public space, which is characterized by a unique and rich urban landscape. Fountains in Sefer Square, Mania Park, Benjamin Park, Memorial Park, Nordau Pedestrian Street and more - all add a touch of beauty, tranquility and elegance to our city. We went out to check on the condition of these fountains: which ones are working, which ones need maintenance, and what their contribution to the urban space and the residents is.
Undoubtedly, the quality of urban space greatly affects our quality of life.
Wide, clean streets, shaded seating areas, accessible bus stops, and tidy bins – all of these are important. But alongside these, well-designed fountains and flowing water are an essential element. Today, there is broad agreement among urban planning experts that flowing water – and especially fountains – create a special atmosphere, enhance the appearance of a city, and attract residents and visitors alike.
A fountain is much more than just a decorative feature.
It cools the air on hot summer days, and offers a place where children can play and cool off.
It is a natural attraction, a meeting place and a place of rest. Thanks to the fountains, the streets and squares come to life, and the quality of life in the urban space increases. A city characterized by a wide variety of fountains – each with a unique character – presents a high quality of life, and invites residents and visitors to stay and enjoy the surroundings.
Field inspection: Which of the fountains is working?
The fountain in Sefer Square
The fountain in the square is operating properly, with a plentiful stream of water and an inviting appearance, making it a prominent attraction in the heart of the city. The fountain's operation is automatically stopped whenever a sensor installed in it detects high wind strength, in order to prevent water from splashing on passersby. The operation is automatically resumed after a calm in the wind strength is detected.
In the past two years, the fountain has taken on additional significance – its surroundings have been decorated with empty yellow chairs, as part of a protest by the families of the kidnapped, and it has become a local symbol of hope, pain, and determination in the public struggle to return all the kidnapped people home.
The fountain in Mania Garden
Throughout the month of April and until mid-May of this year (2025), the fountain was out of service due to a malfunction in its unique pump. The municipality reported that the pump had broken down, and a new one was ordered in its place. About a week after the article was published (in "Hai Peh" on 14.5.25), a new pump was installed, and to the delight of the residents of the area – the fountain returned to full operation, and its flow was resumed.
The fountain in the Memorial Garden
The fountain is active, adding calm, tranquility, and pastoralism to the quiet, green corner in the heart of the city.
The fountain on the Nordau pedestrian street
The small fountain on the pedestrian street is partially operational, mainly due to maintenance failures.
And which of the fountains is not working?
The fountain in Benjamin Garden – The fountain is not working.
The fountain in Lin Square – the fountain is not working
The fountain in Lin Square – An on-site inspection found that the fountain was not working.
Haifa Municipality told Haifa that the fountain's operation stops automatically, to prevent water from splashing on passersby, when a special sensor detects high wind strength. When the winds weaken, it resumes operation. During our visit, the fountain was silent, apparently due to the weather conditions.
The fountains – a touch of magic and elegance
The drops of water, the sound of flowing water and the beautiful design create an atmosphere of calm, peace and magic in the public space. These sounds connect us to nature, relieve tension, and remind us to stop, listen for a moment and savor the beauty around us. The connection to water is almost ancient and when the city knows how to cultivate it, residents enjoy a higher quality of life.