Friendship Fountain being Demolished?

[F_man8326]

First time posting here, although I have been visiting this site very frequently over the last couple of months.

I watched on wjxt.com that Friendship Fountain was going to be demolished and being replaced a new fountain that would include a children's water playground. Isn't there a water park close to Alltel Stadium and Metro Park?

I have several concerns about this and I don't know where to begin voicing my dismay over this, if it is true. Supposely, it is going to cost 3 million to destroy Friendship Fountain and I don't understand why this city would destroy something that has been a fixture to this city for decades. With all of the construction happening in downtown Jax, I would be appalled and dismayed with the thought and the actual destruction of Friendship Park. I was told that this was in the discussion stages, and personally, it needs to stop right there.

I have not found nothing else about this on the other local news sites but here is a link with more details.

http://www.jaxfountain.com/

[thelakelander]

Who knows what's going on? I assume this is what the shrinking "Big Ideas" plan has evolved into, considering the mayor mentioned already hiring fountain expert and moving kids campus over to Friendship Park, converting the existing park into a staging yard for special events.

[DapperDan]

If this is true, then I want to know why? I admit, the fountain is not working half the time, but it is still something we can all relate to and find. It is a fixture. What is the deal with this city and all the historic buildings and such that they tear down all the time. If they could get away with it, I bet they would love to tear down Snyder Memorial (on Hemming Plaza) and build a pocket park or something. Can we do anythign to stop this?

[vicupstate]

HHMMMM, I thought the city was BROKE. Where did $3 million dollars come from all of a sudden. Did the mayor's overpaid staff pass the hat or something?

Do we have to fly a plane with a banner over city hall (or Ponte Vedra) before Peyton gets a clue?

Something like....
"Mayor Peyton - Nobody likes your idiotic Big Ideas"

[02Roadking]

Here's a thread with MAYBE some more info:
http://metro.e-mpire.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1384

[Keith726]

The guy I spoke with at the marinetime said they were going to make it smaller.Why because there stupid I guess,they should just fix it.They already have something like that at the Landing and Kids Kampus for kids to play in.

[fsujax]

I would be very disappointed to see Friendship Fountain reduced in size. I have always admired that fountain. It is such a mainstay fixture on the Southbank. I thought it looked great during the Super Bowl when it was fully functional and all lit up. I hope the city can find a way to repair the fountain and keep it at its current size.

[theskyliner]

I would also hate to see the fountain be reduced in size if that is the plan but wouldn't this project draw more people downtown and thus increases the amount of people downtown and spark more urban/metro development?

[Keith726]

They could incorporate a children's water park along with the expaned marinetime museum and just fix the fountain and leave it alone.There are other things the city should be thinking about demolishing.

[thelakelander]

You'll need more than an isolated interactive fountain to draw the masses. Right now, the Mayor's plan focuses on moving Kids Campus over to Friendship Fountain, but that doesn't support the notion of creating vibrant urban public spaces that cater to a multitude of residents.

It would make better sense, if the city worked with the maritime museum and other local culturally related groups (like Hand's on Childrens Museum on Beach Blvd or Sprinkles) to build new structures on the surface lots surrounding MOSH, the park and River City Brewing, creating some needed synergy. By doing this, the park would then serve as the central gathering space with a multitude of cultural attractions/small sidewalk cafes and River City Brewing framing it. Naturally, it would become a popular place for festivals, school field trips, tourist and southbank office workers looking to get a quick bit to eat at lunch.

[Keith726]

Excellent idea,it would be the spot to be

[thelakelander]

It will blow the doors off of a retail fishing village featuring a harbormaster's house (replica of old St. Lukes) imported from Hilton Head, SC.

[Keith726]

Please dont remind me of that,,anyway our city leaders are clueless.I hope Saylor doesnt take anymore vacations.To me it was more like a replica of a Clara white mission house a poor rendering atleast.MOsh,expaned marinetine museum,possibly an aquarium and we are set.

[Timkin]

I remember a similar thread about overhauling the fountain, in which i said Id want to see the foot print remain the same.

I am not and never will be for Friendship Fountain being completely destroyed. there is no reasonable and practical reason to do it. It probably well may be that pumps and things need updating , but that doesnt mean demolishing it and changing it. it has been an icon on the Southbank for decades. I belive if it were voted on , most people would agree that it should stay.

That having said.... If the City is too broke to embark on various "big idea" endeavors that have not and likely never will materialize (i hope) I wouldnt hold my breath on this one getting done , much before say.. 2070. By then most of us will be gone , and it probably wont matter anyway.

Leave it to this admin to go down in history as making the most and monumental blunders of any Admin in Jacksonville History. Somedays I honestly think a group of 5th grade students could do it better, and cost the taxpayers way less.

[RADIO TALK SHOW HOST]

Destroying the fountain is cheating the people who originally donated to put it there Its along the lines of having to stand up for the veterans wall. except whatever they are going to build in the fountains place they could put anywhere

[JaxInvestor]

Originally Posted by theskyliner

I would also hate to see the fountain be reduced in size if that is the plan but wouldn't this project draw more people downtown and thus increases the amount of people downtown and spark more urban/metro development?

No, i don't think so. To the average Jax citizen, they would see it on the news and think, "next time I'm going through downtown, I'll have to look for that new fountain I heard they are building." This is not something that would bring more residents to downtown.

[Bob_Johnson]

I am Bob Johnson, the Fan, as TV-4 portrayed me, of Friendship Fountain.

I am also the webmaster of JaxFountain.com which has been an unofficial fan site for Friendship Fountain and was originally started to try and get the hours of operation improved.

What i find so appalling in this current crisis at the Fountain is the apparent attempt by the City to quietly make the Fountain go away. As far as i know there has been no public discussion regarding this, nor any City council involvement, at least none reported.

I wouldn't even be aware of this if Jim Piggott of TV-4 had not contacted me regarding a Project note he somehow came into the possesion of. The actual interview and story Jim presented on TV-4 can be viewed here:
http://www.news4jax.com/video/861363...l.html?taf=jax

It reads as follows...

Project : Friendship Fountain Park
Project Description : Demolish existing fountain and construct new fountain including interactive childerns water playground
("childerns" is spelled that way on the copy Jim provided me)

Grant: ------------ Budget $3,000,000.00

Date -- Timeline -- Status Update -- Completion Date -- Grant Status
1/17/06 - 60 Days - Survey and Start RFP Process Prepare & Advertise
3/17/06 - 140 Days - Grade and Award RFP
8/17/06 - 90 Days - Master Plan
11/10/07 - 180 Days - Prepare Construction drawings, Bid Project and Award
5/11/07 - 180 Days - Construct project
2/10/08 ----- Project complete

There are no entries under Completion Date or Grant Status columns.

I will either scan this or take a picture of the actual form, which does not bear any city identifying marks on it in the next day and link it from JaxFountain.com.

I think it is obvious that i would not be in favor of Demolishing the Fountain and to the best of my knowledge, the current problem is with the pumps themselves which I would think that after the money that has been spent on the new nozzles, piping and interior of the Fountain itself, would be worthwhile in finding replacement pumps and watching Friendship Fountain pump away for another 40 years.

Friendship Fountain should be considered a landmark of the Jacksonville Downtown and destroying it should be about the last possible move the City should take.

- Bob

[Seraphs]

Way to go Bob, I agree whole heartedly. Friendship fountain should remain the landmark it is. This fountain could be repaired and should be. Mayor Peyton is flighty, he doesn't think things through.

[Gone North]

should be left alone or repaired but not demolished or moved.

With our Mayor, he will think about moving it on Monday and by Wednesday, he will have a new that means keeping it there.

Good grief, I sure hope he retires next year.

It will be interesting to see him in a debate where he must provide hard answers to well prepared and researched questions?

I hope that whomever runs against him, in effect, holds his feet to the fire and does not let him get away with the pious and self serving platitudes that he speaks mostly of at public events.

But, conventional wisdom is that he has enough money to run and win again.
I sure hope that is not accurate.

[RADIO TALK SHOW HOST]

Thank you Bob we appreciate the credablity this site gets when someone in the middle of a story puts their opinions on this site While your here please notice the quality of infomation here on other stories. Tell your friends.