Water Will Soon Flow: Knightsville’s Second Fountain Nears Completion in Cranston

The replacement fountain on Cranston Street that had fallen into disrepair over the years is being installed this week. Crews could be seen working on the mechanics inside the circle area where the fountain will be installed while the fountain itself rested in the parking area across the street.

Once electrical connections and lighting are fine tuned the fountain should begin running water and serving as a focal point for families. The fountain was originally donated by an individual to the city and it rests on a section of Cranston Street at the turn that was later bricked in to resemble a piazza of sorts.

The fountain will be one anchor of the Knightsville redevelopment which extended down Cranston Street and begins at the new Itri Park.

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The Fountains!

Itri Park & The Caesar Fountain

Shadley Associates (SA) led the design for Itri Park in the Knightsville neighborhood in Cranston, RI as a subconsultant to AI Engineers. SA developed the overall park design and construction documents while AI Engineers provided the civil and electrical engineering. The team also developed design/construction documents for the adjacent streetscape.

The fully renovated Itri Park is dedicated to the early immigrants of this community from Itri, Italy and is a unique public open space in the heart of the neighborhood. The park capitalizes on previously unused greenspace and is host to numerous public events through the year, including arts festivals, farmers markets, concerts, and the annual St. Mary’s Feast in July. The site design includes a small plaza with an ornamental three-tiered fountain connected with a linear walkway and pergola to a larger plaza with a gazebo as its focal feature. The park also has accessible walkways, seating, a bocce court, lighting and landscaping. Itri Park’s grand opening was July 8, 2023, when Mayor Kenneth Hopkins stated, “This park will bring many years of new joy to Cranston and the people who come to this setting for moments for reflection, to read a book, be with their children or enjoy recreational activity.”

Knightsville End & the Tall Crane Fountain

The Knightsville Fountains were made by Robinson Iron

Cast metal has been an art and architectural form for centuries, beautifying building facades and gardens. Having structural strength and endurance that allowed graceful forms and minute details, custom cast metals have become architectural and landscape treasures. The craftsmanship of patternmakers, engineers, architects, foundrymen and fabricators transforms bronze, iron, aluminum, copper and stainless steel into virtually any design. Robinson Iron has the experience, discipline and personnel required for your project. Restoration, replication, custom casting and preservation of historic and future ornamental and architectural treasures is our passion.

Robinson has made water fountains that can be found in Kentucky, Union Station/NY, Dorchester Park, Bartholdi Park, and Berczy Park. They are based in Alabama.

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See RINewsToday’s last story on the Knightsville Fountain:

Updated: Cranston’s Knightsville Fountain: Historic Landmark – or Another Political Grandstand