Grand Haven, MI (WGHN) – The Grand Haven Musical Fountain Committee updated City Council on Dec. 1, reporting that the fountain’s systems and production library are in their strongest position yet heading into the off-season. Committee volunteers have completed maintenance, rebuilt pump No. 3, replaced computers, procured new lighting, and built replacement choreography software.
Jerry Troke, Committee Chair and President of Friends of the Musical Fountain says the fountain is in better shape than it’s ever been.
He noted the committee staged 107 of 110 scheduled shows this season, with crowd attendance rising to more than 64,000, up from about 54,000 last year. Social media followers increased from roughly 25,000 at the season’s start.
Brad Boink, the committee’s lead trainer and designer of the new choreography software, explained that the replacement was necessary after the legacy software became unsupported. While contracting development would have cost about $82,000, Boink used donated AI credits and volunteer time to build a real-time simulator and toolset. Training sessions for volunteers are planned for early next year.
The committee also purchased new LED fixtures, each about 2.5 times brighter than previous units, expanding the shows’ color palette. Council members were invited to behind-the-scenes tours and volunteer training opportunities. A new committee opening became available following Sarah Kallio’s election to council.
The update included a fundraising and volunteer recruitment plan to support the LED upgrade and software rollout. Residents interested in volunteering can sign up at ghfountain.org or ghmfsoftware.com.
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