East St. Louis is a city with a story, one rich with culture, history, pride, and a sense of place. No small parts of such a story are people like Emma L. Wilson King. From all accounts she was a warm, welcoming lady who made her community a better place.

This vision of the Jones Park Fountain would create a warm, welcoming destination, which would undoubtedly improve the community. The main entrance to the fountain is on the western side off of the existing street. Upon arrival guests will immediately observe Mrs. King’s statue and the surrounding courtyard. The courtyard consists of a plaza paved with stone, encircled by various flowering shrubs and trees. Guests will then follow the stone paving to the fountain. Eight-foot wide paths lead guests around the fountain where they will notice granite bollards. These granite bollards are similar to ones seen in a parking lot to regulate vehicular traffic, but they are being used here as decorative elements. In total, there are twelve on the site with each one representing a child of Mrs. King. The bollards are located in planting beds along the edges of the fountain. The planting beds will consist of ground coverings growing no taller than 6-12”.

Continuing along the path visitors will walk underneath a trellis. Mrs. King was an avid gardener with a love of roses, in honor of her rose bushes are planted at the base of the trellis to add color in the spring and summer. One would also notice that the pavement underneath the trellis has switched from stone to brick. These are the Emma L. Wilson King Foundation donation bricks. Just beyond the trellis visitors will enter the memorial courtyard where they will see the granite memorial wall. This wall is engraved with images and stories from the lives of the King family. On each side of the memorial wall is another wall of donation bricks. This will conclude of the Emma L. Wilson King memorial experience.

In addition to the memorial, this design includes a 0.58 acre lawn area to be used for graduations, weddings, and various gatherings. This area is bordered by stone paths and flowering trees and can accommodate several hundred people. The parking lot, to the northwest, has been designed with 36 spaces. It also forms the proposed northern boundary of this site.

Years ago, the King home was a place where all the neighborhood children congregated. The rooms were filled with the joy and love that Mrs. King shared with them. Now years later, those same children have grown up and once again have a place to gather. The circumstances may be different, but that same joy and love lives on. East St. Louis is a city with a story, one rich with culture, history, pride, and a sense of place. No small parts of such a story are people like Emma L. Wilson King.