The Silver Spring Penguin

Colorful balloons and free bagels marked the official start of Silver Plaza’s fountain season Friday morning. But the splishing and splashing will have to wait.

The gushing geyser on Ellsworth Drive is closed to frolicking until county pool inspectors give it an all clear, Jennifer Nettles, a spokesperson for the Downtown Silver Spring shopping center, explained. And that won’t happen until sometime in May, she said.

Until then, residents strolling in Saturday’s anticipated 85-degree heat can look but not touch. A chain surrounds the mosaic-tiled fountain to disuade passersby from getting any ideas.

The county temporarily closed the fountain last year because it had no permit to operate as a public pool. The fountain is a big draw for kid feeling the need to beat the heat.

But don’t let the kiddies have all the fun. Adults are welcome to frolick in the fountain, too, Nettles said.

Photo (lead): Silver Spring’s version of Old Faithful. Credit: J. Deseo/SSP.