COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – The City of Coldwater, has officially opened bidding for the construction of a new fountain within the previously renovated southeast quadrant of downtown’s Four Corners Park.
According to the city’s procurement notice, the scope of work includes installing the main fountain structure, modular operating systems, utility connections, fencing, and landscaping.
Sealed bids must be submitted to the Henry L. Brown Municipal Building at 1 Grand Street by September 10, 2026, at 2:00 p.m..
Bidders are required to include a 5% security bond or bank check made payable to the City of Coldwater. Complete bidding specifications can be acquired directly on the Coldwater Bid Postings Portal or by contacting landscape architect Pam Blough at 616-402-2398.
The bidding phase marks the culmination of a multi-year project heavily shaped by local history and budget optimization.
A downtown fountain was originally envisioned by the late former councilwoman Maureen Petzko, whose family established a seed fund with the Branch County Community Foundation to jumpstart the initiative.
While early designs that incorporated a large modern sculpture drew intense public criticism and drove projected costs to over $800,000, the Coldwater City Council unanimously pivoted to an updated, “sculptureless” blueprint.
Designed by Pam Blough, this refined plan utilizes an underground control vault to dramatically cut the overall estimated budget to under $250,000, funding the civic feature directly from municipal reserves.
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