The floating granite ball was finally settled on its base after about 40 minutes of work including consultation from Gary Jackson of Waterfountains.com and Stonesculptures.com, who created the work for the park at the Apple Valley-based company that specializes in monuments to time that survive for centuries.Made of high-precision solid granite, its amazing that the ball not only floats on the base but also rotates with the water as it flows from beneath. The over spill falls into a drain and the pump keeps the water swirling so the ball can be moved in any direction or spin on its own.Wilson had to put his hand on the 48-inch diameter sphere: “It’s fun to watch,” and maneuver he said, a slight crack in his voice revealing what an emotional moment upon the successful installation of the floating ball.“It’s remarkable that they got it working on the first try,” noted Anita Tate.Public Works Director/City Engineer Cliff Finley noted that the park “will be gorgeous when it’s all done…”Contractor Gil Segovia – as well as his Creative Construction crew - was on hand, working to finish the walkways and rock accents that will highlight the decorative brickwork holding the floating ball structure.“It’s getting there,” Segovia noted of the not yet completed park.Once everything was in order, the floating granite ball was covered until its formal unveiling at the park dedication.
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Roy Wilson touches the Granite Ball after it was set in place last week. The ball immediately began to spin to a smiling Wilson. Photo by Don Johnson |
Floating Granite Ball set in place at Railroad Plaza
April 12, 2006
Santa Paula News
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula TimesIt spun and glistened, amazing for the 8,800-pound polished sphere that danced on the water Friday at the new Railroad Park area being created to highlight the interactive floating ball.Located on Santa Barbara Street just east of The Warning statute, the floating ball sits – or rather spins - atop a matching rich granite base, the result of Roy Wilson’s desire to create a park to showoff a floating granite ball, an object everyone finds fascinating.“There were a lot of people involved,” in the project, noted Wilson.“Am I excited? Oh, yes,” he added as he watched the ball being slowly lifted by a crane and carefully set on the base, a pump making it swirl with water.“I don’t know!” Wilson exclaimed when asked if the ball would start to spin as soon as it was placed on the base. “I certainly hope so!”Mike Shore said he was driving by when he noticed the crowd of people and pulled over.Shore noted that he has been keeping an eye on the project since ground was broken at the site that now holds a huge pile of river rock dug up during the construction.Bringing the floating granite ball to Santa Paula has been in a work in progress for Wilson since the fall of 2004.With the support of the city, members of the Santa Paula Rotary Club - Wilson is a longtime member and Past President - as well as others, the linear park will feature not only have the floating ball but also the stand of already planted native California trees.Located near the railroad tracks, the strip just north of the park will be the future site of the bicycle/walking trail.
