Renovations Coming to Friendship Fountain

[Ocklawaha]

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

[stjr]

Originally, you could walk up the spiral over the pump house for an "observation deck" view of the park.  Today, the walk is gated closed.  Is it in the plan to ever reopen this?  Kids loved the spiral and it was a memorable feature of the park.

Any redesign of the park should accommodate gathering of people for themed festivals and outdoor events like runs and walks that currently frequent the place, not to mention crowds gathered for riverfront fireworks, boat parades, etc.

The big Southbank opportunity is to add a major park at the JEA/School Board land.  The City owns JEA so it should be able to obtain favorable terms to acquire it for its portfolio.  And with multiple failed attempts to develop the property and a lousy economy, JEA should be amenable to a favorable transfer value.

[choosing2disappear]

Just today, while walking through friendship park, a city worker informed me about how useful the gate has been in keeping the homeless from sleeping atop the pumphouse.

[stjr]

Just today, while walking through friendship park, a city worker informed me about how useful the gate has been in keeping the homeless from sleeping atop the pumphouse.

Easy to fix.  Close the gate from 10 PM to 7 AM.  We can't let this problem ruin every amenity in our parks.  We don't close roads because the homeless sleep under overpasses.  By the way, on a recent visit to Treaty Oak Park on the Southbank, I found the homeless sleeping around the tree during the DAY!  And, agressively accosting visitors for money.

[Keith-N-Jax]

Bring the chickens back. Also add peacocks I heard down in Miami they make good watch dogs. They could alert JSO when the homeless come around.

[choosing2disappear]

Just today, while walking through friendship park, a city worker informed me about how useful the gate has been in keeping the homeless from sleeping atop the pumphouse.

Easy to fix.  Close the gate from 10 PM to 7 AM.  We can't let this problem ruin every amenity in our parks.  We don't close roads because the homeless sleep under overpasses.  By the way, on a recent visit to Treaty Oak Park on the Southbank, I found the homeless sleeping around the tree during the DAY!  And, agressively accosting visitors for money.

You make some excellent points, but it should also be noted that the gate truly doesn't deture anyone over 4 feet tall from climbing the pumphouse. Except of course, families and (supervised ) school childeren.  As an obsticle, it works pretty well on them.

What would the the proper fourm for asking the city to get rid of it?

[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!

[blizz01]

Some additional insight from The Daily Record:

http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=529653

[thelakelander]

^Sounds good.  This Friendship Fountain issue shows the power of the public when they rally behind a cause.  Three years ago, the city's plans were to demolish the fountain, which most of the community opposed.  Now, there is a decent plan that improves the space and restores the fountain for a lower cost than the kiddie fountain concept.  Kudos to COJ for listening to the community and developing a plan that preserves one of Jacksonville's most iconic landmarks.

[Ocklawaha]

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

[thekillingwax]

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.

[Reaper man]

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

[choosing2disappear]

The Daily Record article is a nightmare. Those fellas quoted seem terribly arrogant and have no sense of history. Clearly they view the pump house as an embarrassing eyesore and not (in earnest) as a cool, interactive design solution.  Would a majority of citizens like the pump house to be obscured and made less accessible than it already is?

[thelakelander]

Personally, I wouldn't mind the pump house made more accessible to the public.  It can be pretty interesting looking in those holes at all the equipment.

[reednavy]

That last bit sounds like something out of a bath house with a glory hole, Lake.

Anyways, plan looks good to me.