Friendship Fountain
Encyclopedia
Friendship Fountain is a large fountain
in Jacksonville, Florida
. It is located in St. Johns River Park (also known as Friendship Fountain Park) at the west end of Downtown Jacksonville's Southbank Riverwalk
attraction. The world's largest and tallest fountain when it opened, it has been one of Jacksonville's most recognizable and popular attractions.
The fountain and park were designed by Jacksonville architect Taylor Hardwick
in 1963 and opened in 1965. The fountain's three pumps could push 17000 gallons (64,352 l) of water per minute up to ten stories in height. Friendship Fountain remained one of Jacksonville's signature attractions through the 20th century, but severe corrosion and deterioration to the equipment resulted in periodic closures in the 2000s. In 2011 the city completed a $3.2 million renovation to the fountain and the surrounding park.
The fountain and Friendship Park was designed by Taylor Hardwick
, the Jacksonville architect who also designed the Haydon Burns Library
. 14 acres (56,656 m²) of land were donated for the project by the Southside Business Men's Club, an organization dedicated to the improvement of the Southside that was established in 1932. Begun in 1963 and completed at a cost of $1.7 million, the parked opened in March 1965. The "world’s largest and tallest" fountain at the time, it became a popular tourist attraction.
The three pumps had a combined 750 hp and could push 17000 gallons (64,352 l) per minute; some streams as tall as a 10-story building. The enclosure for the pumps and controls was so large that the architect had to include it as an element of design.
The Fountain was originally called the "Fountain of Friendship in Dallas Thomas Park"; friendship at the suggestion of a Rotary Club
member and Dallas Thomas after the city's parks and finance commissioner. However, when Thomas was later involved in a scandal and indicted, the park was renamed in 1968.
. Harbormasters Restaurant was supposed to bring large crowds to the southbank riverwalk, but the venture failed, leaving the city $3 million in debt. The River City Brewing Company, which replaced Harbormasters in November 1993, has been successful, but because the City owns the land, they pay no property taxes.
damaged the computer controller and blew out 40 lights & lenses on April 29, 2002. That was repaired, and the fountain was fully functional for nearly 3 years. It was a major attraction at Super Bowl XXXIX
in February 2005, but two months later, 2 of the 3 original (40-year old) pumps failed and parts were no longer available. The replacement cost for the pumps was estimated at $400,000, but the city budget was tight and money was not available. Afterward the fountain was run on one pump with a greatly reduced flow.
from Metropolitan Park
and eliminating the fountain, rebuilding a smaller fountain or renovating the existing fountain. As of May 2008, there was $15 million in the city's capital projects budget to improve the Southbank Riverwalk, which includes the area around Friendship Fountain; but Mayor John Peyton
felt the amount was not enough.
The Jacksonville City Council approved final plans for a $3.2 million renovation and repair to the surrounding park and Friendship Fountain on February 9, 2010. On August 10, 2010 http://JaxFountain.com, The Friends of Friendship Fountain Website, reported communications from the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission that AC General Inc was named contractor for the project. An official groundbreaking was held on September 1, 2010 marking the start of the renovation of Friendship Fountain and Park. The fountain was closed for eight months for construction, and reopened again on June 18, 2011 amid a celebration.
Fountain
A fountain is a piece of architecture which pours water into a basin or jets it into the air either to supply drinking water or for decorative or dramatic effect....
in Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
. It is located in St. Johns River Park (also known as Friendship Fountain Park) at the west end of Downtown Jacksonville's Southbank Riverwalk
Jacksonville Riverwalk
The Jacksonville Riverwalks are located on the north and south banks of the St. Johns River in downtown Jacksonville, Florida.The Riverwalk was originally a boardwalk on the south bank of the St. Johns River that opened Nov. 8, 1985. It was intended as a venue where tourists and local residents...
attraction. The world's largest and tallest fountain when it opened, it has been one of Jacksonville's most recognizable and popular attractions.
The fountain and park were designed by Jacksonville architect Taylor Hardwick
Taylor Hardwick
Taylor Hardwick is an American architect, interior designer, filmmaker, and educator who designed hundreds of buildings throughout northeast Florida, predominantly in and near the city of Jacksonville....
in 1963 and opened in 1965. The fountain's three pumps could push 17000 gallons (64,352 l) of water per minute up to ten stories in height. Friendship Fountain remained one of Jacksonville's signature attractions through the 20th century, but severe corrosion and deterioration to the equipment resulted in periodic closures in the 2000s. In 2011 the city completed a $3.2 million renovation to the fountain and the surrounding park.
History
Taylor Hardwick
Taylor Hardwick is an American architect, interior designer, filmmaker, and educator who designed hundreds of buildings throughout northeast Florida, predominantly in and near the city of Jacksonville....
, the Jacksonville architect who also designed the Haydon Burns Library
Haydon Burns Library
The Haydon Burns Library is a former library in downtown Jacksonville, Florida. It served as the main library in the Jacksonville Public Library system from 1965 until 2005, when it was replaced by the current facility. It is named for W. Haydon Burns, who served as Mayor of Jacksonville for...
. 14 acres (56,656 m²) of land were donated for the project by the Southside Business Men's Club, an organization dedicated to the improvement of the Southside that was established in 1932. Begun in 1963 and completed at a cost of $1.7 million, the parked opened in March 1965. The "world’s largest and tallest" fountain at the time, it became a popular tourist attraction.
The three pumps had a combined 750 hp and could push 17000 gallons (64,352 l) per minute; some streams as tall as a 10-story building. The enclosure for the pumps and controls was so large that the architect had to include it as an element of design.
The Fountain was originally called the "Fountain of Friendship in Dallas Thomas Park"; friendship at the suggestion of a Rotary Club
Rotary International
Rotary International is an organization of service clubs known as Rotary Clubs located all over the world. The stated purpose of the organization is to bring together business and professional leaders to provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help...
member and Dallas Thomas after the city's parks and finance commissioner. However, when Thomas was later involved in a scandal and indicted, the park was renamed in 1968.
Harbormasters and River City Brewing Company
When a city-owned restaurant and parking lot were built on the property, the park was cut by more than half. Essentially, all the design structures in the park were removed—with the exception of the fountain itself—for what became a boondoggleBoondoggle (project)
A boondoggle is a project that is considered to waste time and money, yet is often continued due to extraneous policy motivations.- Etymology :...
. Harbormasters Restaurant was supposed to bring large crowds to the southbank riverwalk, but the venture failed, leaving the city $3 million in debt. The River City Brewing Company, which replaced Harbormasters in November 1993, has been successful, but because the City owns the land, they pay no property taxes.
Long service
Friendship Fountain functioned for over 20 years and was refurbished in December 1985, before resuming operation for another 15 years. Finally, wear and corrosion forced its closure at the end of the century. A five month, $1.3 million rehabilitation began when the fountain was drained in March, 2001. A new feature was added: six light towers with computer-controlled color-changing floodlights. Unanticipated damage to stainless steel pipes was uncovered, requiring a $97,000 increase in cost and two month delay, but the fountain re-opened in December 2001. It operated for seven months until a power outage/voltage spikeVoltage spike
In electrical engineering, spikes are fast, short duration electrical transients in voltage , current , or transferred energy in an electrical circuit....
damaged the computer controller and blew out 40 lights & lenses on April 29, 2002. That was repaired, and the fountain was fully functional for nearly 3 years. It was a major attraction at Super Bowl XXXIX
Super Bowl XXXIX
Super Bowl XXXIX was an American football game played on February 6, 2005, at Alltel Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida, to decide the National Football League champion following the 2004 regular season...
in February 2005, but two months later, 2 of the 3 original (40-year old) pumps failed and parts were no longer available. The replacement cost for the pumps was estimated at $400,000, but the city budget was tight and money was not available. Afterward the fountain was run on one pump with a greatly reduced flow.
Features
- The fountain’s basin is 200 feet (61 m) in diameter holding 500000 gallons (1,892,706 l) of water which is treated according to swimming pool sanitationSwimming pool sanitationSwimming pool sanitation refers to methods for ensuring healthy conditions in swimming pools, lap pools, hot tubs, plunge pools, and similar recreational water venues...
standards. - The spray component consists of 3 rings.
- The outer ring contains 36 nozzles, equally spaced around the perimeter, projecting a stream of water inward at a 45° angle, rising 35 feet (10.7 m), driven by a 250 hp motor with a pump capacity of 6,750 GPMGPMGPM may refer to:*GPM , a mouse server for the console and xterm*Gallons per minute, a unit of volumetric flow rate*Gallons per mile, a unit of fuel efficiency*General Purpose Macrogenerator, an early macro processor...
- The middle ring is 120 feet (36.6 m) in diameter and consists of 18 nozzles directed vertically, rising to a height of 40 feet (12.2 m), driven by a 150 hp motor with a pump capacity of 4,500 GPM.
- The center ring is 15 feet (4.6 m) in diameter and contains 9 nozzles operating vertically, rising to a height of 120 feet (36.6 m), driven by a 350 hp motor with a pump capacity of 5,500 GPM.
- The fountain has a anemometerAnemometerAn anemometer is a device for measuring wind speed, and is a common weather station instrument. The term is derived from the Greek word anemos, meaning wind, and is used to describe any airspeed measurement instrument used in meteorology or aerodynamics...
that controls the height of the center nozzles. If the force of the wind is from 5 to 15 miles (24.1 km) an hour, the height of the center nozzles will not exceed 70 feet (21.3 m). For wind speed in excess of 15 miles (24.1 km) an hour, the height of the center nozzles is limited to 50 feet (15.2 m). This was done to control the blow-off of water into the park and onto persons around the fountain. - Each nozzle has a cluster of 4 lights: dark red, light red, turquoise and amber.
Current status
The future of the Jacksonville landmark was in doubt for a number of years. A number of proposals were made, including moving Kids KampusKids Kampus
Kids Kampus was a city park and educational playground in Jacksonville, Florida built with the purpose of stimulating children mentally, socially and physically.-History:...
from Metropolitan Park
Metropolitan Park
Metropolitan Park is a former baseball ground located in New York, New York. The ground was the part-time home to the New York Metropolitans of the American Association in 1884....
and eliminating the fountain, rebuilding a smaller fountain or renovating the existing fountain. As of May 2008, there was $15 million in the city's capital projects budget to improve the Southbank Riverwalk, which includes the area around Friendship Fountain; but Mayor John Peyton
John Peyton
John Peyton may refer to:*John Peyton, Baron Peyton of Yeovil, , British politician who served as Minister for Transport*John Peyton John Peyton may refer to:*John Peyton, Baron Peyton of Yeovil, (1919–2006), British politician who served as Minister for Transport*John Peyton John Peyton may refer...
felt the amount was not enough.
The Jacksonville City Council approved final plans for a $3.2 million renovation and repair to the surrounding park and Friendship Fountain on February 9, 2010. On August 10, 2010 http://JaxFountain.com, The Friends of Friendship Fountain Website, reported communications from the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission that AC General Inc was named contractor for the project. An official groundbreaking was held on September 1, 2010 marking the start of the renovation of Friendship Fountain and Park. The fountain was closed for eight months for construction, and reopened again on June 18, 2011 amid a celebration.