April 28, 2011 #FriendshipFountain Surprise Update

With setting a Grand reopening date of Jun 18, 2011 I felt like it would be nice to change to weekly updates to try and keep up as work would start moving at a feverish pace and today was the first of what I hope will be bi-weekly Thursday updates :)

My timing could not have been better as not only was work going on all over the Park but Ginny Walthour from the City of Jacksonville's Public Information Office along with a group of planners stopped by to visualize aspects of the Grand re-opening and it was a pleasure to meet her...

She was also kind enough to provide me a copy of the Artist's Rendering of the finished Park project as seen below. (with some modifications of my own)



As you can see in some of the pictures workers were all over the park including Larry, the site project manager, who was working with a pressure washer, though I suspect it was timed for myself, an Engineer and the City Planning Group who all arrived around the same time... No seriously, if you met Larry you would have no doubt he knows how to work and is willing to jump in when needed ;)



Got a chance to get down into the Fountain to get some pictures of the new LED lights and took the opportunity to get a panoramic view from the center of the Fountain (couldn't get a 360 degree pano due to technical difficulties)..



As I said lots going on and we will be trying to keep up with the various aspects as it "All comes together" counting down to Jun 18, 2011.

Until next time,
Bob

April 22, 2011 Friendship Fountain Renovation Update

The renovations at #FriendshipFountain continue to move right along and as announced a week ago the City is planning the Grand reopening for June 18, 2011, stay tuned for more news in that area...

First I must confess that I finally broke down and replaced the Olympus C730 that has been the mainstay camera for my pictures for a number of years (too many it would seem). It was a 3.2 MP with 10x Optical Zoom that has done a pretty good job for my purposes however, 3.2 MP? come on Bob get with the times...

So starting today the pictures are being taken with a FugiFilm Finepix S2950, 14 MP with 18x Optical Zoom. Now I still need to work on some color balance but overall the pictures are amazingly better and the Panoramic option really takes some fun pictures and if nothing else check those out...



The big additions to the Fountain this week are the lights which have all been put into place and wired into their controllers but are being covered with boxes to protect them until covered with water...



The other is the new Inlaid Plaque which was created as a duplicate of the original...



More concrete has been poured, more pavers are being laid, more benches are showing up and it is starting to take shape. One area that will be popular, I am sure, is the new picnic area in the southwest corner near the entrance of the Park as the shade is just beautiful...



As well as a second shaded picnic area closer to the river...

Lots going on folks and if nothing else make sure you have cleared Saturday June 18, 2011 on your calendar and make plans to attend the Grand Reopening of Friendship Fountain and Park...

Until next time,
Bob

Mark your Calendars June 18, 2011 Grand Reopening Friendship Fountain & Park

I just was contacted by Ginny Walthour from the City of Jacksonville's Public Information Office and she let me know they are beginning to plan the Grand reopening of Friendship Fountain and Park, scheduled for June 18, 2011, time to be announced.

Make sure to mark your calendars for this date and plan on being in Attendance as Ginny has indicated the plans are for a Family Affair lasting a few hours and everyone is invited.

If you have any suggestions for the event please feel free to contact Ginny at:
walthour@coj.net

She is especially interested in hearing from anyone that has old photographs of the Fountain from the past, such as family gatherings, weddings and similar events and anyone with experiences from the early days of Friendship Fountain.

I of course will post additional information as it becomes available and look forward to seeing as many folks as possible on what I expect to be a very Memorable Event!

Until next time,
Bob

April 8, 2011 Friendship Fountain Park Renovation Update

When I arrived at Friendship Park on Friday most of the crew had already left for the day and I wasn't able to get up on the top of the Pump House to continue the panoramic shots, probably just as well since the panoramic shots I took from ground level seemed to miss the mark as well...

The new Pumps have had the plumbing connected and wiring has started...



Two sections of the new hand/guard rail are in place, looks like a much more robust rail system to me...



More concrete has been poured and workers are still working on laying the highlight pavers in the poured sections of the walkways...

I spoke with Larry, the site Project Manager, by phone and he indicated that starting this week work would commence on placing the new lights in the Fountain pool (all of those round concrete forms are for lighting mounting)...



Oh and the Former Modis building is now nameless...

That is about it for this report, however I am considering trying to slip some additional updates in place possibly as early as this Friday...

Until next time,
Bob