Staff ReportsThe sound of water is back at Meridian Hill Park — or at least you can see it trickling. After years of silence, contractors have been spotted testing the park’s famous cascading fountain, and neighborhood photos and video show water flowing again. It’s a small, satisfying sight. It’s also a useful reminder that when government finally moves, it deserves both cheer and scrutiny.
Fountain testing: sight lines and simple facts
Residents captured footage this week of the long-dormant cascading fountain in Meridian Hill Park (also called Malcolm X Park) with water running through parts of the 13-basin system. The National Park Service says the contractor is testing the water flow and that rehabilitation work began in late 2025 or early 2026. Officials expect more park areas to reopen this summer as pieces of the project are finished. Advisory Neighborhood Commission Chairman Miguel Trindade Deramo posted footage and called it a progress report — which, to be fair, is a phrase the neighborhood hasn’t heard enough of for seven years.
Money, orders, and what it took to get here
This isn’t some do-it-yourself park cleanup. The NPS tied Meridian Hill’s repairs to Executive Order 14252, “Making the District of Columbia Safe and Beautiful,” signed by President Trump. The fountain work is part of a larger D.C. beautification effort that aims to fix multiple inoperable fountains across the capital. The price tag for Meridian Hill’s work is roughly $15 million, with about $10.7 million earmarked for the cascading fountain, reflecting pool, secondary fountains and plumbing. That’s a lot of money to get water flowing again — but it was needed after the full cascade had gone dry since about 2019.
Politics, praise, and overdue maintenance
There’s been predictable political theater: some on the left cheered the sight of running water, calling it long overdue. Fine. But applause shouldn’t erase a plain fact: many parks and fountains suffered from years of deferred maintenance under previous management. The Trump administration’s executive order forced the issue and moved funds. If you’re going to praise the outcome, be honest about what prompted the outcome. Praise for the fountain is fine; pretending it magically fixed itself is not.
What to watch next
Keep an eye on the NPS for an official “fully operational” confirmation. Right now contractors are testing systems; testing does not equal final commissioning. Neighbors also want clear timelines for reopening the lower plaza and lawn areas that were fenced off for rehab. The sensible demand is simple: the public paid for this park, and officials should finish the job cleanly, on schedule, and with accountability for the money spent. Let’s hope the next videos show the cascade flowing end-to-end — and not another slow-motion patch job.
