Friendship Fountain

[fsujax]

This was in the Jacksonville Daily Record this morning.

"The Jacksonville Economic Development Commission is working on what it calls a “scope review session” for possible renovations to Friendship Fountain on the Southbank. Others involved include Sam Mousa of JB Coxwell Planning & engineering and an urban planner from New York City."

Why do we need an Urban Planner from NYC? we have plenty of great ideas from within our city and from sites like this.

[Doctor_K]

Sounds like the powers-that-be really don't know about this site.  Or don't care.

[copperfiend]

Maybe he is an expert on demolishing a fountain and replacing it with a playground and hot dog cart.

[thelakelander]

I don't care about an urban planner from NY coming down (competition is good), but I do believe that the city should move forward with the community's wishes at heart.  On this particular issue, its clear the JEDC is out of touch with the community yet they're in charge of defining the design criteria and project scope.  So if they don't want a restored fountain to be a part of the revitalized space, preservation of the local landmark will not be in the project's scope.

[jacksonvilleconfidential]

Ive said it before and Ill say it again. RENOVATE THE FOUNTAIN! Don't demolish it.

[tufsu1]

it says "possible renovations"

Let's wait and see the scope before jumping to the conclusion that JEDC/City still wants to demolish it!

[JeffreyS]

Waiting and seeing is how it gets to be too late when you finally act.

[Ocklawaha]

TIME FOR A PEACEFUL RALLY OF SUPPORT...

which could be followed by:

A FRICKING GOOD OLD HEAD BASHING PROTEST CIRCA 1969 - (might as well, been looking for my head every since the peoples park left me dented!)

OCKLAWAHA

[Keith-N-Jax]

Waiting and seeing is how it gets to be too late when you finally act.

You said a mouthful there. We all know Jax's history of past projects, rarely do they do anything right. I am amazed how little the public awareness is in this city!!!

[tpot]

I can not grasp WHY the city would want to destroy a Jacksonville Landmark like Friendship Fountain and move a Kids Park they JUST BUILT down the river to a smaller location......

Renovate Friendship Fountain.  Make it bigger and better...........remove some of that concrete expand the current museum and make it a destination...........add some space for a cafe that could do lunch and dinner by the fountain and the river..............I know.............all this crazy talk......

[thelakelander]

it says "possible renovations"

Let's wait and see the scope before jumping to the conclusion that JEDC/City still wants to demolish it!

Better yet, continue to call them out on this issue and perhaps public sentiment will entice them to preserve the landmark and integrate it into their plans.  If its one thing we've learned with this website is, its better to call leadership out early and express your concerns instead of being quiet and hoping things come out okay.  Sometimes it rubs people the wrong way but its a highly successful method.

[BridgeTroll]

You are right on the money tpot...

[tufsu1]

I didn't say wait until the design is done...I said wait and see what the Request for Proposals says!

[thelakelander]

Yeah, I hope public sentiment can influence the Request for Proposal's scope.  If its announced that they plan to incorporate the preservation of the landmark as a part of the scope, then its all good.

[Charles Hunter]

Once the Request for Proposals is out, if it calls for destroying the fountain, then all of the consultants will propose destroying the fountain.  Conversely, if it calls for preserving the fountain ...