Entry No. 25 — the Spokane file — filed under: art-immersive
Rotary Riverfront Fountain
Designed by Spokane artists Harold Balazs and Bob Perron, this monumental abstract structure functions as a giant interactive sprinkler you can walk into. Water arcs and sheets across the sculptural forms so visitors move through the piece itself rather than viewing it from a distance. On hot days it becomes a soaking, walk-through art environment in the heart of the park.
The story
Most civic monuments command you to stand back, admire from behind a brass railing, and speak in hushed tones. Spokane artist Harold Balazs and collaborator Bob Perron took the opposite approach when crafting the Rotary Riverfront Fountain near the Howard Street South Channel bridge. They constructed a monumental abstract steel environment embedded with visual references to Mount Spokane's topography, the Spokane River, and the region's climate patterns—then wired the whole assemblage with jets that blast sheets and arcs of water directly across the artwork.
Brought to life with support from Spokane Rotary Club 21 after a complex development process that almost kept the project from being built, the structure functions as an aggressive, walk-through piece of public art. Rather than isolating the water in an untouchable decorative pool, Balazs and Perron turned the fountain into a giant, interactive sprinkler matrix where water cascades down geometric forms and shoots across pedestrian paths, forcing you to step inside the piece if you want the real experience.
What it's like
Approaching the south plaza of Riverfront Park on a scorching summer afternoon, you'll feel the fine mist drifting off the steel forms before you even step onto the splash pad. The atmosphere is unpretentious and chaotic, with kids and adventurous adults darting straight through heavy curtains of water while crowds watch from the dry perimeter. The concrete around the sculpture gets slick, so mind your footing if you decide to charge through the arches. If you intend to walk into the core of the jets, come prepared to get completely soaked.
The move: On a warm afternoon, dare each other to walk through the fountain's jets and get gleefully soaked downtown.
- 📍 Spokane (Riverfront Park)
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: Riverfront Park, near the Howard Street South Channel bridge, Spokane, WA 99201
Hours: Added 2026-06-24 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- Garbage Goat — Walk a short distance further into Riverfront Park to feed your trash directly to a mechanical metal goat that vacuums litter into its mouth.
- The Childhood Express (Giant Red Wagon) — Continue exploring Riverfront Park's oversized outdoor installations by climbing up the handle slide of this 27-foot steel wagon.
- Boo Radley's — Head south out of the park into downtown to dry off while browsing an offbeat novelty shop packed with pop-culture oddities.
- Petunia & Loomis — Walk a block south onto Howard Street to swap the sunlit spray park for a shadowy shop full of taxidermy and wet specimens.
Good to know
Is there an admission fee to access the fountain?
No, it sits in public parkland and is entirely free to visit.
Who designed the sculpture?
It was designed by renowned Pacific Northwest artist Harold Balazs alongside artist Bob Perron.
Where in Riverfront Park is it situated?
You'll find it at the southern gateway of the park, near the Howard Street South Channel bridge.
Does the fountain run continuously all year?
While the abstract steel sculpture stays in place year-round, the water jets operate seasonally during warm months; check local park schedules before heading out.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: spokanehistorical.org · my.spokanecity.org · splashpadatlas.com · spokesman.com
last checked: 2026-06-24