Chicago Park District Turns On Buckingham Fountain

CHICAGO (CBS) -- You know summer is just around the corner when the Chicago Park District turns on Buckingham Fountain, which it did Saturday morning.

WBBM's Nancy Harty reports it is a sight for sore eyes after a record-setting winter with water spraying 150 feet into the air at Buckingham Fountain.

The fountain holds 1.5 million gallons of Lake Michigan water and is completely drained before the winter.

Superintendent Michael Kelly was on hand as Char'Nese Turner, the Park District's Junior Citizen for 2014, helped start the fountain.

Listen to Park District Turns On Buckingham Fountain

Chief engineer Dan Dust with the Chicago Park District says the brutal snow and cold took a toll on the 87-year-old structure.

"There was quite a bit of damage from the long winter, light fixtures, there were some things that kind of moved around opened up caulk joints," said Dust. "It was not a typical year trying to get it ready."

But it is ready and flowing. Lights have been replaced and are ready to perform with music at hourly shows starting at 8 p.m.

The fountain, which was inspired by fountains at the Palace at Versailles, is operating at 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. from now until October.