Friendship Fountain Restoration Project To Break Ground

[fsujax]

it was not just full throttle, I think some of the jets were broken.

[Bob_Johnson]

Sorry for not posting sooner, things just happen...

Bob, I think I saw you there. Jag shirt?

VERY nice pics on the site, btw.  

That would have been me yep   and thanks

Does anyone know why the roof of the pump house is constantly gated shut, and soon to be blocked off by plants? There's a very nice mosaic bench built into the top of the structure, offering a very nice view of downtown. It's a shame nobody can legally enjoy it.

Skateboarders?

My understanding is primarily skateboarders as well as security for other reasons.  Speaking of skateboarders apparently the rim of the Fountain itself was used occasionally for skateboarding, well that won't be possible any longer with the new Guardrails...

This looks good. Are they going to retain the Kings Road/Cowford Historical marker?

As far as i know yes

There used to be a wind gauge on the pump house that would limit the height of the fountain to prevent water from blowing all over the place.  When the wind was calm that sucker would be really up there.

Looking forward to seeing it working again as I was there when it opened.

That is true and there will again be a wind gauge (Anemometer) on the pump house roof for that purpose.  Also as I mentioned to acme54321 when they wrote me, it seems to me that at some point in the past the overall max height allowed for the center ring had been reduced due to water spray issues even in the calmest winds but i will inquire when i get back down to the site next week.

it was not just full throttle, I think some of the jets were broken.

You were correct it is not full throttle however the problem is not any of the jets which all appear to be working fine but with the Engineers determining that everything is OK and some old valves that were not part of the refurb and there is some concern about those operating properly...

No pix?

More here: http://jaxfountain.com/Gallery/May112011

-Bob
JaxFountain.com

[BridgeTroll]

Thank you Bob!

[TheProfessor]

Glad the fountain is operational now!  Now if only they choreographed the jets to music?

[Bob_Johnson]

Glad the fountain is operational now!  Now if only they choreographed the jets to music?

They are working on that as well.

Look at this picture and see the new lighting on the towers along with the new speakers that were just installed.



-Bob
JaxFountain.com

[blizz01]

Now THAT'S cool.

[JeffreyS]

Seriously Thanks for the pics Bob.  I can't wait to be on the boat 4th of July Fireworks fountain all lit up playing music with the water putting on a show. Congrats to all involved.

[Cliffs_Daughter]

Bob, I actually saw you there the day of the groundbreaking, I think.

A BIG Thank you for that picture today! I'm just so happy to see her running again!

[Timkin]

Bravo to the crew that refurbished the Fountain!  It looks awesome !!!

[acme54321]

Thanks for posting Bob!

[duvaldude08]

I can not WAIT to see this! I will be spending alot of time at Friendship fountain

[Dog Walker]

The night of the day John Lennon was murdered there was a spontaneous gathering of several hundred people holding candles and singing his songs at the fountain.  We were there.  It was incredibly moving.

It is a special place and just fantastic that it is receiving an long overdue facelift and restoration.

[Bob_Johnson]

I just got off the phone with Larry Summerville, the AC General Superintendent, and he let me know that they turned the pumps and valves to Full this morning during testing and the Center ring was about 100 Feet in height by his estimate.

However during the test he said it soaked the surrounding area all the way to the river and up to the entrance from the water spray, so what the full height allowed will be is still yet to be determined.

I am hoping that I will be able to get down to the Fountain during the next full test, later today or early next week and get some shots of all the rings at full power.

-Bob
JaxFountain.com

[Dapperdan]

When it first opened, did they have problems with it spraying outside of its holding area when it was at 100 or 120 feet? I am curious how it was done then and now it can't be done.

[wsansewjs]

The night of the day John Lennon was murdered there was a spontaneous gathering of several hundred people holding candles and singing his songs at the fountain.  We were there.  It was incredibly moving.

It is a special place and just fantastic that it is receiving an long overdue facelift and restoration.

Since my generation is much younger than yours, I perceived the Friendship Fountain as the place for peace for Jacksonville, connecting the past to the future.

And for the visual cue, thanks to the lovely local designer, Karen Kurycki, from her office in Riverplace Tower, she captured this photo of the Fountain going full blast.



-Josh