Fountains
Design Problems Some fountains have plants and decorations around, which could end up inside the fountain. Some people throw garbage into fountains. Totally enclosing the fountain prevents this, but of course, an enclosure could be quite ugly, and defeats the purpose of having a decorative fountain in the first place. An alternative is to make it harder for people to get close to the fountain, perhaps with large, heavy plants or railings that block the way.
Decorative water fountains are usually located at central points in malls. But this location is desirable not only to legitimate shoppers, but groups of unruly teenagers and loiterers as well. Sometimes, these areas become crowded and slow down the pedestrian flow. If these areas get too rowdy, some shoppers may avoid passing by. This could result in less business for nearby stores. Many crowding problems can be prevented by restricting seating close to the fountain.
