RACINE - The Dr. Laurel Clark Memorial Fountain will not be open for children to play in next year.

The chemicals that the city is required to use to allow children to play in the fountain are corroding the fountain's mechanics, said Donnie Snow, Racine Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Director.

When the city originally built the fountain, located Downtown on Sam Johnson Parkway, Snow said it was not intended for children to play in. But children soon discovered it and the city's health department and the state required the city to add chemicals to make it safe, Snow said.

But the equipment was not made for the chemicals.

The city spent $82,000 to maintain the fountain in 2007 and Snow estimates that could be cut in half if the city did not have to spend money on chemicals and extra maintenance.

Some damage is already done, but eliminating the use of chemicals will help prolong the fountain's life, Snow said. Next year before the fountain starts operating in May, the city will install a chain fence around the fountain, Snow said.

If the chain fence does not work he said the city may need to build a wrought iron fence, he said.