St John’s River Park and Friendship Fountain

About

The Southbank’s Friendship Fountain, designed by visionary architect Taylor Hardwick, opened in 1965 and soon became a photogenic spot for visitors and an iconic landmark for Jacksonville.

It’s changed greatly, though, and the park around it has been whittled down over the years until it’s less than half its original size. It was even put on the Jacksonville Historical Society’s annual list of the most endangered buildings and places in the city, until the fountain was renovated in 2011.

It’s now undergoing another big renovation — something that boosters hope will make it a key part of a network of downtown riverfront attractions designed to make the St. Johns River more than something you just drive over.

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