Visitors to Duluth’s Canal Park in Minnesota encountered an unexpected sight Sunday morning. One of the waterfront district’s most recognizable fountains had been transformed into a giant bubble bath.
Thick suds covered the Fountain of the Wind and spilled into the surrounding area. Police said people were seen putting soap into the fountain around 10 p.m. Saturday.
What may have looked like a harmless prank actually created a public safety concern. Officers closed part of the surrounding area, and the fountain had to be shut off for cleaning.
No arrests or suspects had been announced as of Monday morning. The Duluth Police Department said the incident remained under active investigation.
Suds Covered the Fountain and Surrounding Area
Embedded media follows. Please allow a moment for it to load.
Photos show a large pile of bubbles rising from the fountain, with yellow caution tape surrounding the attraction, while thick foam covered the water and nearby pavement.
Reportedly, officers responded to 400 Canal Park Drive after receiving a report of people adding soap to the fountain. Squads blocked nearby sidewalks and roadways before placing additional markers around the hazard.
A city plumber was called to turn off the water until the soap and suds could be removed, according to Duluth ABC affiliate WDIO. Police had not disclosed how much soap was used or whether the fountain suffered any damage. A possible motive for the incident also had not been announced.
The Fountain Has Been in Canal Park Since 1993
The Fountain of the Wind was designed by artist Douglas Freeman and first erected in 1993. The City of Duluth, Visit Duluth and the Duluth Public Arts Commission commissioned it as part of the Canal Park Public Arts Project.
The fountain includes bronze fish, sculptural towers, stepping stones, and several cascading sections of water. According to Douglas Freeman Studio, the artwork was inspired by the energy and mythology surrounding Lake Superior.
Bronze sturgeon and lake trout spray water throughout the installation, while its towers create a visual connection to Duluth’s Aerial Lift Bridge. Visitors can normally walk across stepping stones and enter the fountain’s sculptural landscape.