Northland Fountain

First proposed by civic leader and parks advocate Anita Gorman, the Northland Fountain was dedicated on June 21, 1983. Located in Anita B. Gorman Park, it was the first Kansas City fountain constructed north of the Missouri River. The circular, 80-foot fountain operates year-round, transforming into an ice sculpture in the winter. Given the background behind the efforts to preserve this land as a public space and create a fountain at this location, the project is sometimes referred to as “Spirit of Cooperation,” a title that reflects decades of partnerships and funding by both the public and private sector. The nearly 46-acre park that surrounds the fountain was renamed in honor of Anita Gorman in 1991. 

Designed by Larkin & Associates, the 80-foot fountain features geysers that can spray water forcefully up to 35 feet high. Because of this, the Northland Fountain is one of only three publicly owned fountains that runs year round. In the winter the water freezes over, transforming the fountain into a spectacular ice sculpture as the water continues to flow. For the first time in this area of the city, Northland Fountain was the host for the 2022 Fountain Day, the day in which all of the city’s fountains are turned on for the season. 

In 1957, Kansas City Parks and Recreation first started acquiring the land in this area. The following year, Anita Gorman, who would later become a champion for Kansas City Parks, moved to the Northland neighborhood and began advocating for the community's improvement. She wanted to preserve the land and prevented planned commercial development in the open space near Interstate 29 along Vivion Road, two major thoroughfares in north Kansas City. That plat of land was developed into Northgate Park and decades later, additional property was acquired. 

Funding for the Northland Fountain was initiated by Northland developer Charles Garney and Anita Gorman, a member of City of Fountains Foundation since its establishment in 1973 and the first woman appointed to Kansas City Board of Park and Recreation Commissioners in 1979. The fountain was constructed in the west portion of the park and dedicated in 1983. It is sometimes referred to as “Spirit of Cooperation,” representing the unified partnerships and funding between public and private sectors who worked together to complete the project. The nearly 46-acre park was renamed in honor of Ms. Gorman in 1991. 

Anita B. Gorman has been a devoted civic leader since age 17 when she was the city-wide president of YMCA’s group Y-Teen. After becoming a member of City of Fountains in 1973, she was elected to the Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioners in 1979 before serving as President from 1986 to 1991. Gorman also served on the Missouri Conservation Commission from 1993 to 2005 and became the first woman to chair the commission in 1996. During her career, she passed bonds that expanded the Kansas City Zoo, acquired land for additional parks and boulevards, secured land for conservation, and helped maintain city owned monuments. Her love of nature and devotion to enhancing Kansas City has earned Anita B. Gorman’s recognition throughout the city. She continues to be a supporter of the parks and arts, and involved in major fundraising efforts. 

Northland Fountain, City of Fountains. Accessed July 15th 2022. https://cityoffountains.org/northland-fountain/.

Lubinski, Amanda. Fountain Day comes to Northland, Courier Tribune. April 20th 2022. Accessed July 15th 2022. https://www.mycouriertribune.com/community_living/fountain-day-comes-to-northland/article_8fa5b0c6-c018-11ec-9dbf-2f1dd564f41e.html.

Anita B. Gorman Park, KC Parks and Rec. Accessed July 15th 2022. https://kcparks.org/places/anita-b-gorman-park/.

Anita Gorman, American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration. Accessed July 15th 2022. https://aapra.org/Awards/Pugsley-Medal/Recipient-Biography/Id/118.