Will Bandić’s fountains make money?

The first public technical trial of two fountains on the Street of the Croatian Brotherhood Community near the National and University Library in Zagreb was held last night, and it is expected that in three months these fountains, for which the project cost 18.5 million kuna, could receive an occupancy permit and be put into operation.

The head of the City Office for Spatial Planning, Davor Jelavić, stated that a trial-technical inspection of the project was conducted last night to see if everything was done as planned and if it is functional.

He emphasized that the fountains were made ‘top-notch, beautifully, and magnificently, and that all functions have been somewhat programmed’. ‘Our city deserves this,’ Jelavić conveyed. He mentioned that the cost of the project is around 18.6 million kuna.

The project includes two fountains and two underpasses as connections between the National and University Library and Trnje, as well as the infrastructure that will be needed for the future construction of three more fountains and four underpasses, which are in the conceptual design phase. Project manager architect Ivan Valek stated that they checked the technical capabilities of the fountain last night to determine the water games and their programs accordingly.

We have a deadline of 90 days until the grand opening, which will be in spring, and everything must be perfect by then. There are water organs that can change water forms, the fountain is musical, dry ice can be released, and anything can be projected onto the water screen, and it will also allow young people to display their graffiti on the water screen. He asserted that this will be the first fountain that can make money, and that it is an ecological project.

He expressed regret that some prominent individuals protested against the construction of the fountain on the Street of the Croatian Brotherhood Community due to heavy traffic, noise, and cars emitting CO2, and stated that ‘the air here will be better than in Zrinjevac’.

The water in the fountains is so healthy and chemical-free that it will be drinkable, and children will be able to bathe. An ice rink is planned for winter. The first public technical trial of the two fountains gathered several dozen curious citizens, but it was also accompanied by a protest from members of the Occupy Croatia movement who displayed a banner at the fountain reading ‘Bandić, Remetinec is waiting for you.’