GRANTS PASS, Ore. — Riverside Park in Grants Pass is welcoming back one of its iconic features.
Tuesday morning the city celebrated the return of its Lion Drinking Fountain. The Lions Club placed one of the signature fountains at Riverside Park back in the late 1960s.
Courtesy: JP Graphics, Artistry and Design
The city says it was removed and placed in storage 15 years ago, after being damaged by use and vandals. But with the revitalization of the park and the installation of a new spray park, staff thought it would be a great addition to
bring back the lion fountain.
The renovation was done by Jon Peterman, owner of JP Graphics in Grants Pass. Peterman told NBC5 News he used to drink out of the fountain as a kid so it was neat to be a part of the restoration. The project was sponsored by Dixie Wilks-Owens. It’s believed her late husband Howard L. Owens was one of the original sponsors of the lion.
Executive Producer Kristin Hosfelt anchors NBC5 News weeknights at 5 and 6. Originally from the Bay Area, Kristin earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Broadcast Journalism from San Jose State University.
She came to KOBI-TV/NBC5 from Bangor, Maine where she was the evening news anchor. Kristin has won multiple journalism awards including Best Feature Reporting in the State of Maine. In 2017, her investigation on lead pipes in Medford’s water system was named Best News Series by the Oregon Association of Broadcasters.
When Kristin is not sharing the news, she’s traveling, hunting down the best burrito, or buried in a Jodi Picoult novel. She’s also a Green Bay Packers shareholder; if you see her out and about she’d be happy to tell you the story of how a California girl became a cheesehead.
