Do You Believe In Miracles?

Now that there are no longer trees around Logan Square — the photo at right is of a happier, shadier time — the citizens of Philadelphia are forced to jump into Swann Fountain to cool off, especially as temperatures near 100 degrees.

This, apparently, is unsafe and illegal, accoding to the Fairmount Park Commission, as “there are little kids diving off the statues into less than two feet of water.” Fair enough. But we Philadelphians aren’t stopped by little details like legality. And so the Fairmount Park Commission dispatched a Ford Expedition to drive in circles around the uhh, square, and sound a siren when kids attempted to swim in Swann Fountain. (Raise your hand if you had no idea the fountain had a name.)

Metro reporter Josh Cornfeld filed a dispatch titled “Battle of Swann Fountain” in today’s paper. Here’s the ending:

Some sat with just their feet in the water, others came with children whose sole goal was getting to the Native American statues in the center. But the ranger remained on guard.

Finally, at 6:37 p.m., the white SUV stopped its circular dance and headed down the Parkway, away from the fountain.

“It’s OK,” Yvonne Cambridge yelled, running toward the water with her granddaughter, “he left.”

[Larry] Lindsay jumped into the water and ran to the middle. He thrust his arms skyward in triumph, his red and white adidas sneakers and T-shirt the lone things left on the side.

Disney’s sports division has already greenlit a movie based on Cornfeld’s account of this heroic upset.

Battle of Swann Fountain [Metro]