Renovations Coming to Friendship Fountain

[Ocklawaha]

I'm happy they aren't putting in any covered areas, there are enough bum fights over the gazebo by the Landing. I like going down by the fountain and walking the Riverwalk when it's cool outside but there are just too many dark corners and hiding places once it gets dark. I almost stepped on some guy that was sleeping under the bridge the last time I was over there.

As for the MOSH? I went there a couple of years ago and it was beyond pathetic. Almost every thing was non-functioning and the place really looked like it had been closed for months. Even the little aquariums and animal displays were empty and nasty looking. I wanted to ask for my money back but I kinda felt bad for them.

Those redneck cowboys in Oklahoma City, have the Omniplex Museum, It contains rail museum with full size train cars, Aviation Museum with about 12 airplanes, a restaurant, gymnastics hall of fame, naval museum, photography museum, science museum, Observatory, and botanical gardens. In all the Omniplex has maybe 10 acres under a roof.

MOSH has been an embarrassment to our fair city almost since it was built, though not through any fault of their own. The designers didn't have a clue how to design a museum and all of the effort was put towards "appearance" and not a bit went to functionality. For MOSH to be in a city of 1.3 Million people and still be hemmed in by park land and the tiny buildings after all of these years speaks volumes on how this city treats it's history, science education and to some extent (Amtrak for example) its industry as the poor step child. When that goofy building first opened there was a donation of a Cannon. Nobody thought that an antique cannon would ever go into our museum, nobody planned for such a thing, so there was not a single door, nor hardly a room that could accommodate it. Thus back tracking, the city had to come in and build the infamous "Cannon Door of MOSH," something taken out by the modest expansion.

I wish we were putting in covered area's, but I'd like to see a return of the mushroom shelters that matched the big circles in the pavement. When that place opened it WAS tomorrow land, at least until Disney caught up with us, now were so far behind little Orlando, that they can't even pick us up on radar.

don't we already have one fake light house in downtown Jax!

Yeah, and it's an eyesore.  Then again, the entire church is an eyesore. ;p

Sounds like another genius that is too smart to believe in a God. Personally the plant of FBC is one of the few bright spots in downtown, with fountains, sky walks and plans for a playground. Perhaps the only resident of the city that followed any our the futuristic plans back in the 1970-80's era. "The Church" is not a building BTW, it is the body of believers, be they Christian, Jewish, or something else. Perhaps attending a sunday message in the church of your choice would allow you to see that these people (like them or not), have a genuine concern for their fellow citizens. We really couldn't ask much more.

OCKLAWAHA

[thekillingwax]

I have to say, the newest FBC additions are pretty much nicer looking than anything else built downtown recently. The new main auditorium that was built ~15 years ago is a bit plain on the exterior but the new kids' building is nice and the fountains outside are pretty welcoming. I need to get back down there have dinner on Wednesday night again. I haven't been to a service there since I left about 14 years ago but their food is awesome. We picked up our Thanksgiving food orders from their kitchen today and I already snagged a piece of their pecan pie for myself- it's amazing.

[JaxNative68]

Son in laws two cents worth, make the pump house look like a light house. I think the kid has a great suggestion, what better for the future number 3 container port in the nation? God I love this stuff! REALLY!

OCKLAWAHA

don't we already have one fake light house in downtown Jax!

Hadn't thought about the mission, however of the two, I'll stay with the homeless. Otherwise lets build another one, this one "REAL". There are modern tripod type light houses, maybe something like that with a high observation deck and glass elevators above the original pumphouse? Bet it would become one of the most photograph intensive sites on earth.

OCKLAWAHA

if it is designed right, I could buy into it.  I used to love going to the top of the pump house as a child.

[Reaper man]

oh boy...

Sounds like another genius that is too smart to believe in a God.

Yuuuuuup. :D

Personally the plant of FBC is one of the few bright spots in downtown, with fountains, sky walks and plans for a playground.

Right, because only churches and other christian organizations build fountains, sky walks, parks, etc. Do you realize how much we could extend say, hemming plaza, if the entire FBC was removed outright?  We could have our own version of central park!

Perhaps the only resident of the city that followed any our the futuristic plans back in the 1970-80's era.

I wasn't here during that period (hell, part of that period I wasn't even born) so I'll take your word for it, even though it's a bit biased.  Anyway, let's say it wasn't there.  Don't you think some other organization would have stepped up?  Also remember that all the city officials are FBC members(at least, from my understanding.  By all means correct me if I'm wrong), so yeah, duh.

"The Church" is not a building BTW, it is the body of believers, be they Christian, Jewish, or something else.

Uh, way to spin my words around. Bravo.  When I said the church, I was specifically referring to the FBC downtown, and no, they don't represent all faiths.  If they did, they wouldn't be called the First Baptist Church, now would they?  Do you guys represent Islam?  Buddhism? Flying spaghetti monster?  Didn't think so.

Perhaps attending a Sunday message in the church of your choice would allow you to see that these people (like them or not), have a genuine concern for their fellow citizens. We really couldn't ask much more.

fun fact: I was Unitarian Universalist before I became agnostic.  I was a church goer.  I came to the conclusion eventually that believing in any deity wasn't for me and I considered it to be a bit foolish after giving it some thought.  Also, I still go to that church monthly, just not for the Sunday service.  I belong to an organization called the First Coast Freethought Society, and believe it or not, we care just as much about the city and the welfare of its citizens as you guys do.

How about this. How about you go to one of our meetings (next one is in January though) and I'll gladly go to a church of your choosing.

Finally, what is the deal with you typing in all bold?  I mean what is the point in doing that, really?  By doing that, you completely defeat its purpose which is to add emphasis.

[Charles Hunter]

reaper, you should have been here when Ock used a large purple font!

In today's paper, the Times-Union teased they were going to have a story about the Riverwalks and Friendship Fountain this Sunday.  Have they been reading here?

[YellowBluffRoad]

I also am relieved they're not ditching the pumphouse for the fountain. I recall it being pretty impressive in its glory days in the 70s - the ramp to the top of the pumphouse was lots of fun, and I loved the viewing portholes to the pumphouse. Heck, I even remember when the city employees who maintained the pumphouse would spend time with the visitors and kids and explain how the stuff all worked. Very cool experience for a young kid.

I must have been learning about the USS Monitor when my parents were taking me there a lot - mom and I would go to Friendship Park and the kid's museum while dad tried not to blow his paycheck at nearby Brandon's Camera. For that reason the pumphouse always reminded me of the USS Monitor design, which somehow seemed fitting for a port city. Surely you could fit cannons into those portholes, right!?

And yes, bring back the chickens! 

[mtraininjax]

Ugh - I'd rather see money spent to fix and cleanup Hogan's creek, than to fix the fountain. Littlepage has a good article in the Times Union that expands upon some great ideas. Spend the money in an area where we know neighborhoods are connected to it. I need to side with Springfield on this one, fixing Hogan's creek would be a huge boost to Springfield.

[thelakelander]

^It would also be a huge boost to DT and what's left of Sugar Hill.

[BOfficer]

I know this thing adds to the beauty of our city, but I've just never seen anyone there. 

Wouldn't we be better off updating the boating facilities?  One of Jacksonville's major assets is the amount of waterfront, however the access points are sad.

[futurejax]

I know this thing adds to the beauty of our city, but I've just never seen anyone there. 

Wouldn't we be better off updating the boating facilities?  One of Jacksonville's major assets is the amount of waterfront, however the access points are sad.

This

They should always be thinking in a river first mentality.  Make the riverfront the focus of the city (beyond the landing) and build back from the river. 

[nestliving]

I like the idea of fixing it up and would hope that the improvements make a nice public space for the new residential towers to use...and maybe even get some of the office workers out of the drive thru and onto the streets for lunch. My daughter and I use that area all of the time.

[Dog Walker]

That part of the river is an absolutely horrible spot for a marina.  The current rips through there so hard that there are times that no one can dock or undock.  The marina spaces at Berkshire and the Shipyards and Metropolitan Park are much better because they are sheltered from the current.

[stjr]

That part of the river is an absolutely horrible spot for a marina.  The current rips through there so hard that there are times that no one can dock or undock.  The marina spaces at Berkshire and the Shipyards and Metropolitan Park are much better because they are sheltered from the current.

On the Southbank, we should add the JEA property as a public space.  A lot bigger at something like 40 acres as I recall.  Could handle ball fields, playground, public gathering spaces, bike and jogging trails, a marina, riverwalk extensions, etc. Also, it's much closer to the existing residential towers as well as any that might be built on the Wyndham Hotel site (5 towers proposed at one time) and doesn't entail going under the Main Street Bridge.

Friendship Park, to me, is more of a "visitors" park like Battery Park in N.Y.  A great place to take in the skyline view and soak up the City but not a good place to "recreate".

[urbanlibertarian]

IMHO the fountain should be restored and the plans for the surrounding are seem pretty good to me.  The JEA property needs to be reclaimed and sold so it can generate property tax revenues.  Especially if the current courthouse/city hall annex sites become a COJ owned convention center.

[stjr]

The JEA property needs to be reclaimed and sold so it can generate property tax revenues.  

Urban, consider that all the land surrounding a "JEA Park" would be enhanced, increasing its values, and generating the tax revenue you so desire.  With a park, you are enhancing all the Southbank property values which should be far greater than the value of the park land itself.  And, a park, providing a valuable and desirable residential ammenity, may actually accelerate successful development of the Southbank and its accompanying tax revenues than proceeding without such a park.

My point is a park may generate more indirect and quicker tax revenues than developing the park land directly.

Jax needs to put more thought and creativity into these opportunities.  The old, knee-jerk, build and build fast on every empty lot or in place of any worn building has served us poorly over the years.  Just look around.