They say only Rome has more fountains — and Kansas City isn’t conceding the count. The City of Fountains keeps more than 200 registered fountains flowing, from the grand J.C. Nichols Memorial Fountain by the Plaza (its four horsemen representing the Mississippi, Missouri, Hudson and Rio Grande rivers) to neighborhood gems in every park.
The tradition began with horse troughs and humane drinking fountains, bloomed in the City Beautiful era, and runs today from April’s Fountain Day — when the city ceremonially turns its fountains back on — through the colored lights of the Plaza’s holiday season. The City of Fountains Foundation keeps a registry and tours for the devoted.
Make a game of it: Nichols, Meyer Circle’s Seahorse Fountain, the Firefighters Memorial, the Children’s Fountain.
Kansas City’s nickname is earned one splash at a time.
