County of park: Polk County
Location of park: College St., Albany Ave & Springfield Ave. (MO 13/83), Bolivar
Park named after Edward H. Neuhart
"For about two years, the fountain at Neuhart Park sat empty but after questions from the Board of Aldermen, the water is flowing again.
"Neuhart Park, located at the intersection of South Springfield and Albany avenues, is the site of Bolivar’s iconic Simón Bolívar statue, as well as a brick plaza with bench seating and, of course, the fountain. The goal for the park was to give the impression of a South American-style plaza.
"The reason for the fountain being dry? A summer of drought that affected southwest Missouri and many other regions in 2012.
“That summer, when we were facing a pretty severe drought, we pulled the pump and it was just never reinstalled,” said Public Works Director Jerry Hamby.
"By pulling the pump, it was one less draw on the city’s already taxed water resources. After the summer of drought, Hamby said the fountain fell by the wayside as the city began dealing with other problems.
"The effect of that drought is the reason the city approved a well-lowering project last year as the water table in this area remains depleted. It also caused the city to issue an emergency water order, which limited residents’ use of water during the drought." ~ BolivarMONews.com, Bolivar, MO
Edward H. Neuhart
1886 - 1947Edward H. Neuhart was born March 15, 1886, in Polk County. He attended local schools and received both bachelor's and master's degrees in civil engineering from Valparasio University, Valparasio, Indiana. His career included teaching, surveying, farming, and serving as Polk County Surveyor and engineer for more than 25 years.
An active civic leader, Neuhart was a member of the Bolivar City Council; The Bolivar School Board; The Southwest Baptist College Board of Trustees, serving as president for 12 years; and a Deacon at Mt. Olive Baptist Church. He married Pearl Standley August 20, 1913, and was the father of four living children and grandfather of nine grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
He died November 11, 1947.