Major Ben Lawrence takes the first drink out of the fountain installed and dedicated by Lions Club members at the Salvation Army's Center of Hope Shelter in Tyler Tuesday May 16, 2017. The fountain used to be located at Faulkner Park and is a twin to the lion fountain located in Bergfeld Park. (Sarah A. Miller/Tyler Morning Telegraph)

MELISSA MCTEE, mmctee@tylerpaper.com

The lion shaped drinking fountain, a staple at Faulkner Park, in Tyler, has been relocated and installed at The Salvation Army’s Center of Hope Shelter.

The Tyler Lions Club moved the fountain last week and dedicated the fountain with a ribbon-cutting event Tuesday. 

“This is not a cheap water fountain – it’s about a 4-to-$5,000 piece of equipment, and it is designed to make the kids laugh and have fun,” said Earl Smith, former president of the Tyler Lions Club. “I loaded it on my pickup with a front loader, and when I got over here there were several guys that helped out. It was interesting driving down the highway with this lion’s head sticking up from my pickup cab. I got a lot of funny looks.” 

The drinking fountain, a twin to the lion fountain at Bergfeld Park, is located in the children’s playground area in the center’s gated outdoor recreation space.

The Lions Club fountain will serve hundreds of families, staying in the shelter, each year.