After more than a decade of waiting, Tulsans can visit Caja de Agua, translated to “water box,” at the Tulsa Botanic Garden Sunday.
Leaders from across Tulsa and the Mexican city of San Luis Potosí will host a ribbon cutting to officially unveil the fountain, which was gifted to Tulsa in 2012, at 4 p.m. Sunday. Mayor Monroe Nichols and San Luis Potosí’s Mayor Enrique Francisco Galindo Ceballos will both be present.
Organizers say the fountain celebrates the 45 years of friendship and ties between the city of Tulsa and San Luis Potosí.
Here’s what you need to know.
Who?
San Luis Potosí, a central Mexican city, originally gifted the water fountain to the City of Tulsa 13 years ago, which started a long process to determine if the city could accept the gift.
Tulsa Global Alliance, an organization who oversees Tulsa’s nine sister cities, has worked with other partners to bring the fountain to Tulsa.
In August, Tulsa City Council voted to transfer $110,000 in unused federal COVID-19 pandemic relief dollars to fund the installation.
San Luis Potosí is the city of Tulsa’s oldest sister city, forming the alliance in 1980. The partnership has allowed for student exchange programs, connected the Tulsa Fire Department with firefighters in Mexico and more.
What?
The water fountain is a replica of the original fountain in San Luis Potosí. It was originally built between 1827 and 1835.
The water fountain, which spans 8 feet high and 12 feet wide, is made of pink quarry stone. It has sat in storage for years at the Tulsa Botanic Garden until this summer, when organizers broke ground for the second time.
The fountain will be placed near the water with plants native to Mexico placed around it. There will be walking paths, seating and bilingual signage to create a space for reflection, learning and connection, according to the Tulsa Botanic Garden.
When?
Tulsans can visit the water fountain for free starting at 3 p.m. Sunday with a ribbon cutting ceremony scheduled for 4 p.m.
Where?
The Tulsa Botanic Garden is located at 3900 Tulsa Botanic Drive in far northwest Tulsa.
This article was produced as part of a partnership between the Tulsa Flyer and La Semana, a Tulsa-based bilingual Spanish-English newspaper serving Latino communities in Oklahoma.
News decisions at the Tulsa Flyer are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here.
