If the city has its way, Friendship Fountain, one of Jacksonville’s most recognizable landmarks, is well on its way to being destroyed and replaced by a new interactive kiddie pool along with a downtown resembling Sesame Street.
History
Friendship Fountain was originally called the “Fountain of Friendship in Dallas Thomas Park" when it opened in 1965. Its original name coming from the city's parks and finance commissioner. The park was renamed in 1968 after Thomas became involved in a civic scandal. During its heyday, the 200-foot-wide fountain was billed as the world’s largest and tallest, shooting as high as 120 feet, through 63 nozzles, at a rate of 17,000 gallons of water per minute while 252 multi-colored lights created different patterns into the streams.
Mayor’s Goals
For over a year, the Mayor’s group has been planning to move Kids Kampus to Friendship Fountain, turning the Southbank into a Kids Zone, next door to MOSH. Doing this would free up the current Kids Kampus site to be converted into “Flex Space”, a term they use to describe land set aside to remain vacant so temporary events, like the Super Bowl festivities, can be hosted on them.
Why the Fountain must go
For the mayor’s flex space plan to be implemented, Kids Kampus, which is currently located next to Metropolitan Park, will be moved to the current location of Friendship Fountain on the Southbank. However, Kids Kampus takes up 10 acres, while the entire Southbank site is only seven. It is impossible to create a competitive Kids Kampus on a smaller site, without eliminating or incorporating the biggest obstacle at the new location...the fountain itself.
Why Mayor’s plan makes little sense
Keep in mind, this is the same group who wanted to put hot dog carts on the Main Street Bridge and replace the Landing with a merry-go-round. The Peyton administration claims the $856,000 estimate to return Friendship Fountain to its former glory is too expensive for the city. However, their plan to “refurbish” the area is estimated to cost $4 million. This insane number also does not include the $500,000 set aside to pay a consultant, or the $4.7 million the city spent constructing Kids Kampus only five years ago. So to sum it up; $856,000 is too much of a financial burden on the city to restore a local cultural landmark, but $9.2 million should be invested carrying out the Mayor’s dream? Here is some advice (for free), fire the consultant and take our $500,000 and apply it to the restoration of the fountain and keep Kids Kampus in its place, because despite it not being centrally located in the downtown, it is a well used attraction that was just constructed, with taxpayer dollars, only five years ago.
As for finding “flex space”, the massive city owned surface parking lots surrounding Alltel will provide the city with all the “flex space” it can handle, without destroying a five-year-old, $4.7 million investment.
An Affordable Alternative Plan
The "Big Idea’s" plan to convert the Friendship Fountain area into a kids zone ignores previous downtown master plans, which were created with many hours of public input and that call for a mix of cultural uses in that area, such as a larger maritime museum or aquarium. By inviting existing establishments such as the Maritime Museum - which wants to expand into a first class operation at the site; River City Brewing - instead of buying them out of a 99 year lease; and MOSH, a redevelopment plan for the park can be put together much faster and with less taxpayer dollars. There is also plenty of land in the park to incorporate a tot lot or two, as well as an interactive children’s fountain, without destroying a local landmark.
The best thing of all; by following older plans created with input from the public, the Southbank could be converted into a local cultural center, with a restored fountain serving as the centerpiece. This would create a vibrant recreational space that appeals to all residents of all ages and complements the rest of downtown’s offerings.
Timeline of Significant Events
March 2001
$4.7 million Kids Kampus opens
http://jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/030701/met_5575862.html
April 2005
City discusses buying out River City Brewing’s lease and making Friendship Park interactive like Kids Kampus
http://jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/040605/met_18405701.shtml
A Ron Littlepage editorial suggest moving Kids Kampus to Friendship Park
http://jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/042105/opl_18532364.shtml
August 2005
Spokeswoman hints of possibly replacing the fountain
http://jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/021706/opl_landing.shtml
February 2006
Big Ideas Plan announced (includes a new kids zone at Friendship Park
http://jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/021706/opl_landing.shtml
Littlepage praises Peyton for his downtown vision, which includes moving Kids Kampus to Friendship Park
http://jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/021706/opl_landing.shtml
March 2006
City wants to move Kids Kampus to Friendship Fountain to create “flex space” for staging “big events”. If executed as proposed, the Big Idea’s Kids Zone site would replace Friendship Fountain with an interactive kids fountain. City has already begun talks with fountain experts.
http://jacksonville.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/stories/2006/03/06/story7.html
April 2006
John Culbreth states the fountain will not be demolished
http://jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/050606/ner_21783751.shtml
City mentions replacing fountain with interactive children’s waterpark. Estimates cost to be in the $3 million range
http://www.news4jax.com/video/8613638/index.html
Bob Johnson of Jaxfountain.com revels a city project note, regarding the city’s intentions for Frienship Fountain
http://www.metjax.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1833
May 2006
City receives 7 proposals for redesigning the fountain and surrounding park. At this time officials state they don’t plan to touch the fountain itself. Peyton sends emails to concerned residents mentioning that the fountain will be “refurbished”, not demolished.
http://jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/050606/ner_21783751.shtml
August 2006
Wiles states the fountain can’t be repaired at a reasonable cost. HNTB mentions the city wants to relocate Kids Kampus to Friendship Park. The rough cost estimate is $4 million.
http://www.news4jax.com/news/9771462/detail.html
September 2006
HNTB hired by the city for $500,000 to study fountain redesign. Wiles states there’s no cost estimate on a new fountain
http://jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/050606/ner_21783751.shtml
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September 12, 2006, 2:03 am
Great information. Just the thought of the city destroying what I too consider a downtown landmark is infuriating. The mayor and his administration constantly scream "budget," yet based on these numbers they again want to waste taxpayers money on something that just needs some repair. What total hypocrisy? This information NEEDS to be shared with all of Jacksonville so they too can see what a foolish idea this is, and a very, very bad waste of money. I know I will be passing this information to everyone I know.
September 13, 2006, 3:18 am
More Misguided Brilliance...
Please, Oh please, DO NOT destroy the beautiful friendship fountain. It's one of the crown jewels and truly distinctive landmarks in downtown Jacksonville.
September 17, 2006, 12:47 pm
Voice of Reason
The beautiful fountain should be restored to its former glory, it's the one thing us as taxpayers would like to see our money spent on (Not $500,000 for a study and then say 800,000+ is too much to repair). Repair the fountain and forget the kid fountain idea. The kids park at Metro Park is far enough away from the water that the parents can enjoy being with their children, and Chaparones for Field Trips can properly watch them. The site at Friendship Park would be a nightmare for field trips, with a kids park so close to the St. Johns River. Children's safety should be foremost on everyone's mind.
October 24, 2006, 1:19 am
How is this justified?
Hello again I just saw all this informatiom you have here and i'm simply outraged. Why the hell does this city spend so much money to build a part only to now want to relocate it. this is like the U.S.S Kennedy getting completely rebuilt at a cost of 3 mill and not she's to be decomissioned only like a year and a half after all that work was done. My question is why? What are you people in charge of our city thinking where does all these ideas get justified? You can't see spend oh 865,000 but you can see spending millions to destroy that which so many love. Well i'm outraged you people have no place in charge of anything if this is how you do such a small item I could only imagine how much of our tax dollars are getting used for god knows what. By the way what happens after you take the fountain then 5 years goes by then you decide to set your sites on the mosh next? There is absolutly no justified act or reasoning for this leave the city the way it is if you must go ahead with this plan build on that vacant lot over near the florida board of educations building theres a great piece of property just begging for use. Well i'm finished with my speech AND I ABSOLUTELY DON'T STAND OR AGREE WITH YOUR IDEA'S FOR OUR FOUNTAIN LEAVE IT ALONE AND REPAIR YES REPAIR IT.
October 24, 2006, 1:27 am
some typos
The city spends so much to build a "park" now to want to relocate it. This is like the U.S.S Kennedy getting renovated at a cost of 3 mill only "now" to get decomissioned.Where do all of these idea's get justified? you can't see spending oh 865,000 but the million rage is ok huh? These are the typo's so this way you people understand exactly what I was saying here today. Speak loud and often Keep the past alive.
October 24, 2006, 1:28 am
I saw one last typo
But the million "range" is ok huh?
January 11, 2007, 2:10 pm
Artist
Let the children play in the fountains at the Landing (located directly across the river). Oh, I forgot, the parents have no place to park their car. My My Mayor Peyton, not much of a planner are you?
December 11, 2007, 12:18 am
Re: Friendship Fountain: The Truth Beneath the Lies
So what is the status of this project. Is anything still in the works? There are so many projects well over a year old that have shown absolutely no signs of progress.
A city of a million people can't even get a simple fountain working? come on...
December 11, 2007, 11:41 am
Re: Friendship Fountain: The Truth Beneath the Lies
San Francisco wouldn't replace the Golden Gate Bridge
New York wouldn't update Miss Liberty in a Bikini
St. Louis wouldn't sell the silver gateway arch to Mickey D's.
Hollywood wouldn't remove the giant hillside sign that shouts it's name
Charleston would never level Fort Sumpter for a Condo Complex
Washington wouldn't remove the Lincoln memorial and replace it with a statue of Jefferson BY-GOD Davis. (though I might support that idea)
But Jacksonville, with a landmark, WORLD FAMOUS fountain, would destroy it for a 7-11 store!
Why can't we just repair the original, and surround it with interactive kiddie fountains built into the surrounding sidewalks? The best of both worlds never seem to occur to us... BTW, have we ever fixed the helment on the Spanish soldier in the parK? It was broken prior to 1980!
IF the day comes to rip it up, we should all surround it in mass, and dare them to cross the line in the rubble. First operator over our line is tossed into the river!
Ocklawaha
December 12, 2007, 12:31 pm
Re: Friendship Fountain: The Truth Beneath the Lies
They better not rip up this fountain! This place was one of my first experiences to the city of Jacksonville and inspired my desire to move there. My family and I went there for the North Florida Sports Festival Swim Meet in '91, and when we walked from the Landing to the fountain, I truly realized how beautiful the city was. I didn't need to splash around in a pool to enjoy it...and I was only 16!
Please tell me nothing has happened to this great landmark.
December 21, 2007, 1:27 am
Re: Friendship Fountain: The Truth Beneath the Lies
New York wouldn't update Miss Liberty in a Bikini
St. Louis wouldn't sell the silver gateway arch to Mickey D's.
Hollywood wouldn't remove the giant hillside sign that shouts it's name
Charleston would never level Fort Sumpter for a Condo Complex
Washington wouldn't remove the Lincoln memorial and replace it with a statue of Jefferson BY-GOD Davis. (though I might support that idea)
But Jacksonville, with a landmark, WORLD FAMOUS fountain, would destroy it for a 7-11 store!
Why can't we just repair the original, and surround it with interactive kiddie fountains built into the surrounding sidewalks? The best of both worlds never seem to occur to us... BTW, have we ever fixed the helment on the Spanish soldier in the parK? It was broken prior to 1980!
IF the day comes to rip it up, we should all surround it in mass, and dare them to cross the line in the rubble. First operator over our line is tossed into the river!
Ocklawaha
December 21, 2007, 9:32 am
Re: Friendship Fountain: The Truth Beneath the Lies
^ Yeah, I didn't realize that this topic was over a year old. I remember this plan being discussed at MetJax, and I was thankful that they canceled it. I need to take my wife and son there soon!
December 26, 2007, 8:32 pm
Re: Friendship Fountain: The Truth Beneath the Lies
I think it's the perfect location for street level parking...gosh, we don't have water to waste and we need to do something with all those parking meters we ordered last year from cousin Billy Bob's downtown Baptist Book Store and Parking Meter Research Center.
December 27, 2007, 4:07 am
Re: Friendship Fountain: The Truth Beneath the Lies
leave it be my fountain aint bothering nobody and besides i like it
December 27, 2007, 4:54 am
Re: Friendship Fountain: The Truth Beneath the Lies
alright then, but i'm telling ya it's prime parking police property if i've ever seen it...
April 22, 2008, 12:50 pm
Re: Friendship Fountain: The Truth Beneath the Lies
So, how are the "redevelopment" plans coming.....
April 22, 2008, 12:51 pm
Re: Friendship Fountain: The Truth Beneath the Lies
not a word on this i think...maybe lake knows.
April 22, 2008, 1:17 pm
Re: Friendship Fountain: The Truth Beneath the Lies
International Idea... Fix the fountain and make it even more fantastic, do the dancing water, video with music number on it... Give us music videos on a water screen, Shoot that sucker 200' high. Then surround the entire pond (sidewalk area) with tons of interactive play fountains...
Jacksonville Idea... Tear out those pumps and put a bait and tackle store down there, we can sell Jax and Gator Lager too. Use the old fountain as a bait farm, surround it with a genuine 1930's era tourist court, and rent small fishing boats with 4 HP motors along the old riverwalk. Gosh darn Gomer, we'd have the Worlds largest fish camp! If we tore down that stupid museum we'd even have room for a bowling alley!
Your right Stephendare, "NOT A CHIRP IN A CARLOAD" (former resident: Oliver Hardy)
Ocklawaha
April 22, 2008, 1:20 pm
Re: Friendship Fountain: The Truth Beneath the Lies
Jacksonville Idea... Tear out those pumps and put a bait and tackle store down there, we can sell Jax and Gator Lager too. Use the old fountain as a bait farm, surround it with a genuine 1930's era tourist court, and rent small fishing boats with 4 HP motors along the old riverwalk. Gosh darn Gomer, we'd have the Worlds largest fish camp! If we tore down that stupid museum we'd even have room for a bowling alley!
Your right Stephendare, "NOT A CHIRP IN A CARLOAD" (former resident: Oliver Hardy)
Ocklawaha
Now, now, Ocklawaha, this isnt City thinking......
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