If you are planning on seeing the Jacksonville Downtown Fireworks this year don’t forget that one of the premier viewing spots is from Friendship Fountain and the newly rebuilt Southbank Riverwalk 🙂
Remember to show your American Spirit everyday, not just on the 4th, Fly the Flag Proudly!
Happy 4th of July to everyone,
Bob
Family Support Services to host a free PARTY IN THE PARK for Child
Abuse Prevention at Friendship Fountain
Family Support Services is hosting its annual Party in the Park for
Prevention, celebrating National Child Abuse Prevention month, on
Friday, May 1, from 6-8 p.m. at Friendship Fountain Park, 1015 Museum
Circle. The free, family event will offer valuable child safety tips
and activities that include free water taxi rides, games, giveaways,
face painting, a cooking demonstration and free water safety books for
children, while supplies last.
Complimentary sandwiches will be provided by Chartwells Dining
Services to the first 300 attendees. Free children’s passes to the
Museum of Science and History will be given to the first 50 children.
Nancy Hogshead, Olympic swimmer and three-time gold medalist, will
speak briefly about water safety and drowning prevention. Hogshead is
supporting FSS and Jacksonville’s local Waterproof Florida awareness
initiative to help prevent child drowning. In Duval County, drowning
is the No. 2 cause of child deaths; the No. 1 cause in Nassau County.
Local social services agencies, special guests and the Jacksonville
community are joining together to draw attention to the prevention of
child abuse. Learn about local programs and services, and how they
help children and families in our community.
Area residents are encouraged to wear blue to show support of local
efforts to prevent child abuse.
FSS is the lead agency for foster care, adoption and family
preservation in Duval and Nassau counties. For more information, visit
www.fssjax.org.
The Southbank Riverwalk Reconstruction has finally ended and the Official Grand reopening of the Southbank Riverwalk was today, Feb 26, 2015.
Read more here:
http://www.news4jax.com/news/rebuilt-southbank-riverwalk-reopening/31496964
-Bob
The Holiday Season is upon us and the Holiday Music and Lights program will run from 5:30 PM to Midnight 7 nights a week until Dec 31, 2014.
Things may not be as tall as normal due to the ongoing Southbank renovations but it is still worth the trip.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to one and all 🙂
Bob
On Saturday Nov 29, 2014 at 7 PM ET the Community First Annual Jacksonville Light Boat Parade will take place. Visible from both the North and Southbank Riverwalks and Friendship Fountain.
http://www.makeascenedowntown.com/Events/Jacksonville-Light-Parade.aspx
Immediately following the Light Boat Parade the City of Jacksonville will be presenting Fireworks on the St Johns River from two barges as well as the Signature “Waterfall” fireworks which will be set off from both sides of the Main Street Bridge.
This is a great Family outing as Kids and their p\Parents and Grandparents can enjoy the brightly lit Boats followed by some great Fireworks so mark this on on your calendar.
Till next time,
Bob
It isn’t too soon to start making your 4th of July plans and you want to be sure to add the Downtown St John’s Fireworks display to your schedule.  And one of the best places to watch the Fireworks, especially those with small children is from Friendship Fountain…
For more information http://www.jaxhappenings.com/Events/Fourth-of-July-Celebration.aspx
Enjoy,
Bob
The City of Jacksonville and Jacksonville Landing will be presenting Summer Nights Music and Fireworks at the Jacksonville Landing. The first Summer Nights event will be this Saturday June 7, 2014 starting at 8:00 PM.
For those that want to watch the Fireworks and maybe avoid the Landing Crowds, Friendship Fountain provides one of the best locations to watch the Fireworks 🙂
Additional Summer Nights Fireworks and Music events will be held On Friday July 4, 2014 and Saturday August 2, 2014.  Fireworks are scheduled to start around 9:45 PM ET
Enjoy,
Bob
From First Coast News:
http://www.firstcoastnews.com/story/news/local/2014/05/27/water-taxi-end-service/9651975/
It appears that the City is not renewing their contract…Â Â However that means there will be no water taxi service until the City can rebid the contract…
Seems to me that if the city wasn’t planning on renewing they could have taken steps to have a replacement in place before the contract ended.. Of course that would require prior planning…
Only time will tell if we see water taxi service again and when…
Til next time,
Bob
Party in the Park for Prevention — a free, community event celebrating National Child Abuse Prevention Month — hosted by Family Support Services of North Florida.
Friendship Fountain April 25, 2014 6:00 – 8:00 PM ET
Full information: http://events.jacksonville.com/event/party-park-prevention
Southbank Riverwalk completion Funding still in Limbo
The reconstruction for the Southbank Riverwalk is approximately 2 million dollars short, which depending on who you ask was made clear from the start or was never disclosed prior to starting?… However the bottom line is without the additional funding we will have the Southbank Riverwalk, “The Riverwalk to Nowhere”
An Emergency Resolution failed to pass in the Finance Committee however there is a Council Meeting next Tuesday where the subject could again be addressed.
I urge anyone with an interest in Friendship Fountain and/or the Southbank Riverwalk to contact their Council Representative and plead to have this important project funded completely.
The earlier story from Action News:
http://www.actionnewsjax.com/content/topstories/story/City-seeks-more-money-for-Riverwalk-repairs/AEP3_sWzLUqZzqscncrvqw.cspx
Today’s story…
http://www.actionnewsjax.com/content/topstories/story/Funding-to-rebuild-the-Riverwalk-in-limbo/mJBk8CiNv0Oic6meFUTTcg.cspx
Till next time,
Bob