Friendship Fountain Restoration Project To Break Ground

[duvaldude08]

Ok folks, the grass is Tifway 419 Bermuda grass.

I just got back from the first full test of the night lighting and programming for the Fountain and I took hundreds of pictures which will take some time to sort through but here is a couple just to wet your appetite... 





They also pumped the center ring to max which just before a gust of wind came along looked as tall as I can ever remember and they say max is now around 110 feet...



Once I sort through all the rest of the pictures I will upload them and post again.

But I have to say that the Fountain was just awesome when the music was playing, lights changing and the rings going up and down in pressure and height...

Awesome is the only word i can think of tonight

-Bob
JaxFountain.com

HOLY S@#T! LOOK AT THAT!!

[Bob_Johnson]

I have uploaded all the pictures, I still need to label some of them but they can be seen here.
http://jaxfountain.com/Gallery/May262011Night

And after uploading them I realized I should have posted this one earlier...



I probably won't update the Blog until tomorrow after I have labeled some of the pictures ...

Hope you enjoy,
Bob

[Bob_Johnson]

One more for tonight...  A short video of the Fountain in the final color setting for the first night test...

Jaguars Teal
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1VYGGYosYw

-Bob

[acme54321]

We went out last night to check out the fountain.  the whole park looks so much better, and the fountain is a whole lot more impressive now than the dribble that was going through it last year.  When they had it going all out it really tall.  The outer ring is a lot stronger now also.

We talked to an older guy that I got the impression was the project manager or something.  He told us all about how the fountain worked and the different programs it had.  We suggested an orange and blue program to the tune of the gator chomp for FL/GA.

[fsujax]

Teal for the Jags for those night games!

[KenFSU]

FANTASTIC pictures.

Thanks for the updates Bob.

I cannot wait to see her in action.

[Bob_Johnson]

I just Updated the Blog at JaxFountain.com

http://blog.jaxfountain.com/2011/05/night-time-light-test.html

Remember to set aside the Morning of June 18, 2011 for the Grand reopening of Friendship Fountain and Park...

-Bob

[CG7]

I haven't smile like that about something downtown since I walked the main library on opening day.

[BridgeTroll]

I think Im gonna take a short trip over there today at lunch...

[edjax]

This is looking awesome...like the good old days when I moved to Jax.  Now the city needs to give some serious incentive..as in free for a year or so...for someone to open a small snack/ice cream parlor in the riverwalk building next to the Main St bridge...even if just open on weekends for now.

[Bativac]

I can't believe they finally fixed it! Well done Jacksonville! Now if only something could be done about the water feature around the Maritime Museum. That thing was once pretty nice.

[tufsu1]

well that water feature and those buildings will be coming down soon....all part of the southbank riverwalk redesign

[Bob_Johnson]

Now the city needs to give some serious incentive..as in free for a year or so...for someone to open a small snack/ice cream parlor in the riverwalk building next to the Main St bridge...even if just open on weekends for now.

As tufsu1 indicated those buildings are slated for removal as part of the upcoming Southbank riverwalk renovations. 

I happen to agree with edjax that the old Maritime Museum Bldg would be a perfect small snack shop of some sort but i do know that it would require extensive repairs, the roof needs replacing and the water feature probably needs restoration and I doubt the decision to remove is going to be reversed...

-Bob
JaxFountain.com

[duvaldude08]

Bob,

A small Ampi Theatre are in the riverwalk plans right?

[hightowerlover]

and to think they nearly demolished it