Citygarden, the new sculpture park in downtown St. Louis, was a big attraction during its “soft opening” yesterday.

Adults wandered about until after dusk as kids dashed through illuminated jets of water spouting from a small plaza. Citygarden occupies two blocks bounded by Eighth and 10th streets and Market and Chestnut streets. It’s free and open daily. Like other city parks, Citygarden’s hours are 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The Gateway Foundation is paying for Citygarden’s $25 million to $30 million construction cost. The foundation also purchased and owns all the works of art, estimated to cost at least $12 million. The city owns the land and is responsible for the cost of the park’s water and electricity.

Key to Citygarden’s continued attractiveness will be maintenance. So far, the grass is neatly trimmed and the planting beds are immaculate. But one of the 102 water jets making up the plaza fountain was on the fritz last night.