Saturday evening I took a friend out to see the fountain and to my dismay it has already fallen victim to maintenance issues. The lights weren't working, it was not going at full stream, no synchronization to music. It was very disappointing and a huge let down. Does anyone know what is going on?
Actually this has been standard operating procedure for months now. I've stopped taking out of town visitors over to the fountain because it's never turned on anymore.
Jacksonville: Spending Money On Stuff, Then Letting That Stuff Go
This is very shocking. It is the most inherent problem this City has, I believe. Just look at how well the landscape is being maintained on Laura St, weeds 2ft tall now. Frankly, I am sick of it.
Here is the latest. It looks like they are working on it. My rant still holds true, though!
http://www.jaxfountain.com/
This doesn't bode well, because if it's "going haywire" already what will happen when the warranty is up? I guess this is endemic to City governments where they take the lowest bidder instead of the best contractor for the job.
Atleast its being addressed and is not falling apart without anyone monitoring it.
Quote from: duvaldude08 on May 14, 2012, 12:39:08 PM
Atleast its being addressed and is not falling apart without anyone monitoring it.
Yeah - but how long before it becomes "too expensive to maintain?" It seems like in Jacksonville these types of projects always run into problems and run out of money. They did a fantastic job on this park but the concrete is already cracking in places, some of the pavers are much looser than they're supposed to be, and now the fountain mechanics aren't working properly. I seem to recall Kid's Kampus at Metro Park ran into issues relating to improper construction. And the pavers in the new Laura St roundabout that had to be redone. Maybe this stuff happens in other cities and I just don't hear about it.
Speaking of out of towners and the roundabout, I had the pleasure of listen to a couple of them rant about that "crappy roundabout" in front of the Landing. I know it's an improvement and it looks nice. But it ain't winning any fans.
At least we don't have to worry about those pesky food trucks congregating down there, though.
QuoteJacksonville: Spending Money On Stuff, Then Letting That Stuff Go
I'm with Alvin!
Too bad the fountain works on and off, you might have to fall in on the Southbank Riverwalk to get them to fix the boards that are part of the original installation.
Quote from: peestandingup on February 06, 2012, 03:35:59 PM
Quote from: BridgeTroll on February 05, 2012, 04:57:18 PM
What musical program would you prefer PSU? Sinatra? Hiphop? Classic rock? Perhaps a request line so we could let em know what we are feelin at any given time... :)
You know, that actually would be pretty neat. A paid jukebox that plays the songs via the fountain.
But hey, I'd just be happy with them not playing the same 10 songs over & over & over again. It starts to wear pretty thin, no matter what genre they are (but the overly patriotic theme makes it more so. no, I'm not an american hating terrorist, but damn). That is if they're even doing music anymore (from Bativac's comments). Maybe it broke & they just didn't fix it?? That wouldn't shock me.
Look, I'm not harping on music as much as I am the "ah, whatever" attitude. And its one I've seen a lot from things like this as a whole in Jacksonville. Its the same attitude that got the fountain in the shape it was before now, as well as the same general attitude that gets houses, buildings & entire neighborhoods eaten by neglect. Yeah, I know its just music. But then the pavers, then cracks in the concrete & weeds, then people stop showing up, etc etc.
I'm just saying. If you're going to do something, do it right & keep up with it. If they're doing music, then great. But don't kill us with the same stuff over & over again. And actually make sure the thing works.
Quote from: fsujax on May 14, 2012, 10:02:25 AM
This is very shocking. It is the most inherent problem this City has, I believe. Just look at how well the landscape is being maintained on Laura St, weeds 2ft tall now. Frankly, I am sick of it.
This is what I repeatedly harp on when I say Jacksonville does not "appear" like a nice city. Just this weekend a college buddy of mine from Boston joked about "the rednecks in Jacksonville", and when I joked that that was only halfway true (hey I turned out alright...hehehe) he commented that the city looks like a large dump/ghetto when driving through on 95.
Riverside-Avondale - cool, nice areas...poorly maintained. Downtown...the signature fountain; the one scene consistently shown on ESPN and news backgrounds and postcards and it's not maintained or turned on?!?!?!?!
Shame on the city. It's these little things that ensure a very negative image to visitors, to CEOs, to locals who are either looking for an excuse to hate downtown or looking for a reason to love it, etc etc.
We should all be writing city leaders about this. There's simply no excuse. There is NO NO NO other city in the country that would let something this obvious go, even for 30 minutes.
Quote from: simms3 on May 14, 2012, 07:19:40 PM
Riverside-Avondale - cool, nice areas...poorly maintained. Downtown...the signature fountain; the one scene consistently shown on ESPN and news backgrounds and postcards and it's not maintained or turned on?!?!?!?!
that's not what the jaxfountain link says
Quote from: simms3 on May 14, 2012, 07:19:40 PM
Quote from: fsujax on May 14, 2012, 10:02:25 AM
This is very shocking. It is the most inherent problem this City has, I believe. Just look at how well the landscape is being maintained on Laura St, weeds 2ft tall now. Frankly, I am sick of it.
This is what I repeatedly harp on when I say Jacksonville does not "appear" like a nice city. Just this weekend a college buddy of mine from Boston joked about "the rednecks in Jacksonville", and when I joked that that was only halfway true (hey I turned out alright...hehehe) he commented that the city looks like a large dump/ghetto when driving through on 95.
Riverside-Avondale - cool, nice areas...poorly maintained. Downtown...the signature fountain; the one scene consistently shown on ESPN and news backgrounds and postcards and it's not maintained or turned on?!?!?!?!
Shame on the city. It's these little things that ensure a very negative image to visitors, to CEOs, to locals who are either looking for an excuse to hate downtown or looking for a reason to love it, etc etc.
We should all be writing city leaders about this. There's simply no excuse. There is NO NO NO other city in the country that would let something this obvious go, even for 30 minutes.
I agree with your point, but there's no need to exagerrate. In virtually every major American city some well-known attraction/feature is out-of-order for some reason or another.
I do think that Duval County will have to raise it's (low) taxes if it wants to compete. City maintenance and amenities matter.
Boston has the Curse of the Bambino - trading Ruth to the Yankees. Maybe Jacksonville has the curse of Dallas Thomas, the incumbent City Councilman after whom the fountain was originally named. The name changed when Thomas and some of his henchpeople on the Council were indicted and convicted of an assortment of crimes, mostly taking illegal perks from the City coffers.
I wish it weren't so, but the foregoing reports of how the fountain is not being maintained and operated is just all too typical of the city. I don't care how you look at it, we are a poor city by most standards. Either that or [And?] the folks in charge have no clue as to how to spend money. Yeah, it should be "and." I'll bet the money urinated away on the cobblestones along Laura would keep the fountain going properly for a good while.
Piping in music is a great idea - the poor man's Boston Pops. And the areas around the fountain would easily accommodate food trucks.
Does anyone know if the Mayor or Council Members read this stuff? They damn well should!!
Well, the only saving grace here is that the City is aware of the problem and are attempting to address it. I can't help but to think about the lights that were on the Main St Bridge during Super Bowl, there was a time when the City said they were working on getting them fixed. Still nothing today! I just think this whole issue of maintenance is something the City can't seem to grasp.
Quote from: fsujax on May 15, 2012, 08:09:41 AM
Well, the only saving grace here is that the City is aware of the problem and are attempting to address it. I can't help but to think about the lights that were on the Main St Bridge during Super Bowl, there was a time when the City said they were working on getting them fixed. Still nothing today! I just think this whole issue of maintenance is something the City can't seem to grasp.
That's exactly what I thought of when I read the quote about the electronics "going haywire."
The city clearly never follows through with plans, half asses them, doesn't take care of what it has, etc. Its apparent in everything around. So I'm willing to bet that the fountain will eventually follow this same direction (again).
Its not just the current maintenance issues, but the overall feel I get when Ive been around there the past few months after its restoration. I know I've harped on the music, but that really does tie into all of this. It shows a lack of basic caring & thought. Then I noticed some nights no music at all. Then the fountain seems to never run "full spray" like it used to at times throughout the day (basically just the same steady trickle now). Then the loose pavers (a few at first, now there's quite a few of them). Cracks in the walkways, less people coming out for it, etc.
Plus, the area around it is just thoughtless & disorganized. Surrounded by highways, with very little foot traffic. And I don't have to tell you guys about that side of the Riverwalk & the state it's in. It's a mess.
Again, all this reeks of the same stuff that plagues this city. It's shameful really. I'm sure they'll fix the fountain (for now). But it would not surprise me one bit if it ends up in a similar state as before in a year or two. Then the idiot population as a whole (who doesn't live or do anything in the core) will once again complain how it & everything associated with downtown is a waste, thus continuing the cycle.
Quote from: fsujax on May 15, 2012, 08:09:41 AM
Well, the only saving grace here is that the City is aware of the problem and are attempting to address it. I can't help but to think about the lights that were on the Main St Bridge during Super Bowl, there was a time when the City said they were working on getting them fixed. Still nothing today! I just think this whole issue of maintenance is something the City can't seem to grasp.
Not only they are aware, but the fact that somebody is actually monitoring the operation of the fountain and has ordered the part to fix it is step in the right direction for this city to be honest.
Quote from: fsujax on May 15, 2012, 08:09:41 AM
Well, the only saving grace here is that the City is aware of the problem and are attempting to address it. I can't help but to think about the lights that were on the Main St Bridge during Super Bowl, there was a time when the City said they were working on getting them fixed. Still nothing today! I just think this whole issue of maintenance is something the City can't seem to grasp.
There seem to be separate issues going on. The city accepts the lowest bid for projects; the city fails to maintain them; the city does not budget to maintain them; the city lets projects stick around for awhile and then fall into disrepair. (Look over at the Southbank Riverwalk.)
Jacksonville really does do a good job with building some of this stuff - the Riverwalk was really cool when it was first built, for example, and Kids' Kampus - but when it comes to maintaining, either they run out of money or nobody cares. Or both.
I'm eager to see the Fountain re-restored to its splendor.
Quote from: KenFSU on May 15, 2012, 09:53:38 AM
Quote from: fsujax on May 15, 2012, 08:09:41 AM
Well, the only saving grace here is that the City is aware of the problem and are attempting to address it. I can't help but to think about the lights that were on the Main St Bridge during Super Bowl, there was a time when the City said they were working on getting them fixed. Still nothing today! I just think this whole issue of maintenance is something the City can't seem to grasp.
That's exactly what I thought of when I read the quote about the electronics "going haywire."
the lights were a "cool" design by a local architect/designer....and the City actually did fix them once...then the lights broke again...I think the City rightly decided the maintenance of the lights was just too much.
Quote from: peestandingup on May 15, 2012, 10:21:15 AM
Then the fountain seems to never run "full spray" like it used to at times throughout the day
there is a very good reason for this...it was winter and they were concerned with overspray from winds on colder days.
Please read the jaxfountain website....the person who blogs on there cares more about the fountain than probably anyone else in this city.
ok, maybe upkeeping the bridge lights was too much, but weeding the newly planted beds on Laura St???? really. how hard is that?
the jaxfountain website is a good source.
Some cities grow up, determined and predictably, to resemble a fine tuned FAO Schwarz store.
Jacksonville on the other hand is quietly slipping from the grasp of K-Mart.
I'm hanging on in my belief that we can change it, escape however, remains a viable option, just don't get stuck.
I got myself out of a civil war once and I think I can get out of Jacksonville, other's seem to have tried and failed. The entire population in fact. But there is always hope. You know, people are always putting Jacksonville down. None of my friends can believe I live here. But that's because they don't get it: I'm living in a state of utter denial.
With apologies to:
The Long Kiss Goodnight
Happiness
for butchering the quotes.
OCKLAWAHA
Quote from: Ocklawaha on May 15, 2012, 09:01:23 PM
Some cities grow up, determined and predictably, to resemble a fine tuned FAO Schwarz store.
Jacksonville on the other hand is quietly slipping from the grasp of K-Mart.
I'm hanging on in my belief that we can change it, escape however, remains a viable option, just don't get stuck.
I got myself out of a civil war once and I think I can get out of Jacksonville, other's seem to have tried and failed. The entire population in fact. But there is always hope. You know, people are always putting Jacksonville down. None of my friends can believe I live here. But that's because they don't get it: I'm living in a state of utter denial.
With apologies to:
The Long Kiss Goodnight
Happiness
for butchering the quotes.
OCKLAWAHA
Certain angst seen in the posts here.
Bail out.
The signature Fountain Scene telling.
Less and less propensity to grant slack.
If not by 'now'.......when??
The money Wife and I are saving from skipping habitual Shoppes of Avondale dine forays could lead to finally affording too expensive better place.
and more about the fountain from the Daily Record yesterday. Now landscaping issues. and not enough money to plant vines for the pergola? really?
http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/downtowntoday.php?dt_date=2012-05-15
The fountain spray was pretty dramatic when they first opened the new park. I watched all the grass, etc get blanketed with the chlorine water and knew that would be a problem. No one thought of this in advance? That is why the original fountain had concrete all around and much further out.
Quote from: tufsu1 on May 15, 2012, 03:57:15 PM
Quote from: peestandingup on May 15, 2012, 10:21:15 AM
Then the fountain seems to never run "full spray" like it used to at times throughout the day
there is a very good reason for this...it was winter and they were concerned with overspray from winds on colder days.
Please read the jaxfountain website....the person who blogs on there cares more about the fountain than probably anyone else in this city.
I wouldn't call that a good reason. So they made it trickle out for months because we may or may not have had a few days of cooler weather? This is Florida after all. And I can probably count the cool days we had this winter on one hand.
Couldn't they have simply turned it down on those appropriate days, or would that have been too much effort?
Easy solution. Attach a wind meter to the programming software. There I fixed it for you. Where is my check?
i heard that it did have a wind meter.
Maybe I have on rose colored glasses, or I dont get worked up over stuff, but Im not getting all flustered over this. There are issues with the fountain, they are being proactive and rectifying the issues. The old Jacksonville would have let it crumble for 20 years before deciding to do something. Just my two cents.
As Dapper Dan said, they should have known overspray would be a problem and not planted chlorine sensitive plants there. Sounds like they solved the issue with less chlorine. Let's hope so.
My issue is that I was told I had to pay $5 valet parking fees to the restaurant. There was no free public parking for the free public fountain, and I had no cash on me. There used to be a few public spaces near the traffic circle, but apparently the City gave those as well as all the rest to the restaurant. Really? No free parking for a public park?
Quote from: Debbie Thompson on May 16, 2012, 12:34:02 PM
As Dapper Dan said, they should have known overspray would be a problem and not planted chlorine sensitive plants there. Sounds like they solved the issue with less chlorine. Let's hope so.
My issue is that I was told I had to pay $5 valet parking fees to the restaurant. There was no free public parking for the free public fountain, and I had no cash on me. There used to be a few public spaces near the traffic circle, but apparently the City gave those as well as all the rest to the restaurant. Really? No free parking for a public park?
You have to park in the museum parking lot here: http://is.gd/dQ9PXK Take that entrance to the end & there's parking right next to the Fountain.
But you're right. None of this stuff is exactly apparent & it goes with my earlier comment (access & connectivity to the fountain kinda stinks). And walking to it isn't much better (big highways & cars everywhere over there). And that side of the Riverwalk is a mess & not many people use it. So the only real way to get people into it are the ones who can find their way over the Main Street Bridge from the more-often-used side of the Riverwalk/The Landing. But I've never been crazy about that setup (the bridge walkway entrance is actually off the path of the Riverwalk).
This is where some JTA/city ran ferry boats would do wonders (not private ones that have longer waits & charging folks $3 a head to go a few feet). Connect those two areas & don't have people jump through hoops to get to them. Because more often than not, they just won't bother.
there is a river taxi stop at the RCBC and a Skyway station two blocks away.
QuoteNone of this stuff is exactly apparent & it goes with my earlier comment (access & connectivity to the fountain kinda stinks). And walking to it isn't much better (big highways & cars everywhere over there). And that side of the Riverwalk is a mess & not many people use it.
All easily fixed by Alvin, if it were more of a priority than voting on Furniture. Check out Melissa Ross's great editorial in the Times Union today. She's right on!
http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2012-05-16/story/melissa-ross-furniture-argument-irrelevant-were-already-losing-criminal (http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2012-05-16/story/melissa-ross-furniture-argument-irrelevant-were-already-losing-criminal)
So I was over there last night & the fountain is not being used (still broken I guess?). It occurred to me that Jazz Fest is next weekend. Anyone know if it'll be fixed by then?? That's a pretty major event & we get a ton of visitors from out of town.
It would be a REAL shame if that fountain isn't working for that.
Quote from: peestandingup on May 20, 2012, 02:28:48 PM
So I was over there last night & the fountain is not being used (still broken I guess?). It occurred to me that Jazz Fest is next weekend. Anyone know if it'll be fixed by then?? That's a pretty major event & we get a ton of visitors from out of town.
It would be a REAL shame if that fountain isn't working for that.
Per their website they ordered the part and is waiting on it to arrive. So I guess to answer your questions, the part has not arrived.
Quote from: duvaldude08 on May 20, 2012, 07:30:21 PM
Quote from: peestandingup on May 20, 2012, 02:28:48 PM
So I was over there last night & the fountain is not being used (still broken I guess?). It occurred to me that Jazz Fest is next weekend. Anyone know if it'll be fixed by then?? That's a pretty major event & we get a ton of visitors from out of town.
It would be a REAL shame if that fountain isn't working for that.
Per their website they ordered the part and is waiting on it to arrive. So I guess to answer your questions, the part has not arrived.
That post about the part coming was April 10th, and its now May 21st. Jesus. :-\
Quote from: peestandingup on May 21, 2012, 01:17:47 AM
Quote from: duvaldude08 on May 20, 2012, 07:30:21 PM
Quote from: peestandingup on May 20, 2012, 02:28:48 PM
So I was over there last night & the fountain is not being used (still broken I guess?). It occurred to me that Jazz Fest is next weekend. Anyone know if it'll be fixed by then?? That's a pretty major event & we get a ton of visitors from out of town.
It would be a REAL shame if that fountain isn't working for that.
Per their website they ordered the part and is waiting on it to arrive. So I guess to answer your questions, the part has not arrived.
That post about the part coming was April 10th, and its now May 21st. Jesus. :-\
Yea. As of May 11th they are still waiting on it to arrive. And its funny he posted about the second phase of construction saying that the city will get it completed (LOL) looks like he feels our pain. Atleast they are staying on top of it. Cant ask for much more at this point. I still enjoy it in the time on my lunch break. But night time is disappointing without the lights and music
Quote from: peestandingup on May 21, 2012, 01:17:47 AM
Quote from: duvaldude08 on May 20, 2012, 07:30:21 PM
Quote from: peestandingup on May 20, 2012, 02:28:48 PM
So I was over there last night & the fountain is not being used (still broken I guess?). It occurred to me that Jazz Fest is next weekend. Anyone know if it'll be fixed by then?? That's a pretty major event & we get a ton of visitors from out of town.
It would be a REAL shame if that fountain isn't working for that.
Per their website they ordered the part and is waiting on it to arrive. So I guess to answer your questions, the part has not arrived.
That post about the part coming was April 10th, and its now May 21st. Jesus. :-\
I posted over at jaxfountain.com and Bob replied that as far as he knows, they're still waiting on the part to arrive. That was yesterday. No idea if the fountain will be back up to speed by the Jazz Fest but I think we can assume the answer is no.
It's frustrating how the city can't seem to get anything done right the first time around. Friendship Fountain is emblematic of Jacksonville's problems.
Quote from: peestandingup on May 21, 2012, 01:17:47 AM
Quote from: duvaldude08 on May 20, 2012, 07:30:21 PM
Quote from: peestandingup on May 20, 2012, 02:28:48 PM
So I was over there last night & the fountain is not being used (still broken I guess?). It occurred to me that Jazz Fest is next weekend. Anyone know if it'll be fixed by then?? That's a pretty major event & we get a ton of visitors from out of town.
It would be a REAL shame if that fountain isn't working for that.
Per their website they ordered the part and is waiting on it to arrive. So I guess to answer your questions, the part has not arrived.
That post about the part coming was April 10th, and its now May 21st. Jesus. :-\
I noticed that late yesterday the fountain itself was back up and running