Peyton's Struggles: Friendship Fountain

[Metro Jacksonville]

Peyton's Struggles: Friendship Fountain



If the city follows through with its current plans, Friendship Fountain, one of Jacksonville's most recognizable landmarks, could soon meet its demise.

Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/content/view/995

[DjDonnyD]

Just To let you know.....The Jaxhistory link is DEAD!

[BridgeTroll]

This works... for now.

http://www.jaxhistory.com/

[thelakelander]

try this one: http://www.jaxhistory.com/Endangered-Buildings.html

[DjDonnyD]

Okay, I Have a question. Maybe someone can answer this?

Is there any way for us as the public and taxpayers to just start some kind of fund on our own and start collecting money to just fix the fountain. I'm sure if you asked most any one in town that visits or has visited the fountain at any time in there life. I remember going there as a child (I'm 43 now), we all have a memories that happen around this fountain. So, to get back to what I was saying. I truly believe, most of us would be willing to kick $5-10 bucks towards Saving this truly special fountain. The city says: ( The Peyton administration balked at the $856,000 estimate they received to restore Friendship Fountain to its former glory. )

Well, If it is truly only going to cost about 1 million dollars to bring this fountain back to it's "GLORY"... What are we waiting for? Let's start collecting money, and get it done!

If we leave this up to the Goverment, THEY WILL DESTROY THE FOUNTAIN! We owe it to this great landmark, to do what ever we can to say it!

So, once again, How many people here would be willing to give a few bucks to Save this fountain? Anyone agree?  

[DjDonnyD]

Excellant! Thanks For the link Lakelander!

[jeh1980]

As much as I respect Mayor Peyton, his plan will never work. I always loved the friendship fountain. And I would rather see him restore the fountain than to replace it with a playground. Why won't we instead restore that fountain and put a observation deck/revolving restaurant, an aquarium and a small amplitheater around it!  Keep the faith and LONG LIVE FRIENDSHIP FOUNTAIN!!!

[nestliving]

There are some great pictures of the fountain and it's design on Taylor Hardwick's website. www.taylorhardwick.com. It is truly astonishing what this city has done to one of Florida's most respected architects work.   

[fsu813]

I don't agree with Peyton on much............but this I do.

Creating a great kids space with an interactive fountain, next to the river, next to MOSH, would make the area a huge draw for families. This is assuming they do the job well, of course.

It would create an area of congragation where there is none now and present an opprotunity for business (ice cream/hot dog vendors, etc). 7 acres for the Kidz Kampus is plenty, hell half that would be plenty if the job is done right.

While keeping ther fountain with repairs and minor renovations to the area would be sentimental, it doesn't speak to the future.

[thelakelander]

Why can't you have both?  A great family friendly space with both an interactive fountain and a restored local landmark would be better all around.

[jaxlore]

i proposed to my wife in front of that fountain.
i love this city.

[lindab]

I wonder if the cost of the fountain replacements is similar to the costs for the courthouse; maybe could be done less expensively with fewer frills. Also wonder about the cost of landscaping and maintaining landscaping versus keeping things pretty much as is.

[blizz01]

They could put pond pumps in the center of it & it would be an improvement at least in the interim.........

[avonjax]

Ok
Here is my 2 cents
fsu813-I have to vehemently DISAGREE with you. YOU DON'T destroy the few icons left in a city.
It seems Jacksonville leaders have had your thinking for decades. And what are we left with? A downtown full of demolished history.

And now for the statement I'm sure will meet with disagreement from everyone. Even though MOSH is in the park, why do we need to add another play ground for kids?
I AM NOT ANTI CHILDREN, but hasn't the city recently added play areas in many of Jacksonville's great parks?
There is a playground park on San Marco Blvd. A nice one in Riverside Park, which in my opinion defaced it, and one on each end of Boone. And that's the three that come to mind that are close to downtown.
And of course why throw away over 4 million dollars on a park that is not even 10 years old.
The location may be a mistake but does it justify making another one?
Is it so wrong to have a wonderful park that caters to enjoying the beauty of the river and the skyline without providing children an outlet to play?  (Take them across the river.)
When I was a little kid my parents took us to a park down the street with sliding boards, etc and then sometimes to places where we were taught to enjoy the surroundings. IT WOULDN'T KILL KIDS to have a little down time at a park.

This is a little corny, but Friendship Park is a very romantic place. I can understand why so many people were proposed to there. And when the fountain works right, like it did for the Superbowl it is magical.
And by the way EVERYTIME I have been to the park with kids there, they are just as intrigued and delighted with the fountain as the adults.

If the Fountain goes I may finally give up on our city, at least for my lifetime.

[stephendare]

Or heaven forbid that they should update the park over into what God intended for all that concrete and curves:

Allow skateboarders, trick bikers and rollerblades to enjoy themselves there without having to deal with a S.W.A.T Team and unmarked black helicopters.

Thats a whole lot more likely to bring in a few thousand people on the weekend than a plastic wasteland where kid's candy and or snack food is being seized by brutish seagulls who have been frequenting the park grounds for a few thousand years.

The Museum of Science and History isnt a Children's Museum anymore you know.

Whatever did children do before they invented horrible tacky plastic municipal playground stuff?

I guess they just wilted on the vine before shuffling off to a miserable adulthood.