Workers reinstall the fountain Thursday at Fountain Square Park in Bowling Green. The fountain, formally named “Hebe, the goddess of youth,” was taken to Alabama for repairs this summer.

Bowling Green’s unofficial first lady is back in town, with a new coat of paint and badly needed repairs.

The iconic downtown fountain was back Thursday anchoring its namesake Fountain Square Park after having been removed four months ago.

The fountain was dismantled this summer and taken to Robinson Iron Works in Alexander City, Ala., for repairs and repainting as part of broader park improvements.

As that project winds up, a crane lifted the fountain Thursday in sections back into its spot in the park’s center.

“She’s gorgeous,” city Parks and Recreation Department Director Brent Belcher said of the newly painted fountain. “She’s sparkling like I’ve never seen before.”

No special event is planned to mark the fountain’s return; instead, it will be on display for the crowds expected at the annual Christmas tree and park lighting event in early December.

Mayor Bruce Wilkerson noted that Bowling Green is nicknamed Park City in reference to Fountain Square Park and that an image of the fountain is part of the city seal.

“I’m glad we are being made whole again,” he said of the return of the fountain.

The fountain is formally named “Hebe, the goddess of youth” and was originally installed in the park in May 1881, although many of the pieces of the current fountain are from more recent renovations.

The Bowling Green City Commission awarded Scott & Murphy the $430,000 contract for the entire park project last spring. The project includes replacing about 1,000 square yards of sidewalk and brick pavers, repainting some of the sculptures and other fixtures in the park, upgrading lighting and installing pads for the park benches to increase the size of walkways.

Belcher said that project is “approaching the finish line. The weather has started to play a factor, but getting the fountain done was one of the last pieces.”

The project is slated to be completed in the next few weeks, he said.