The last time there was a major construction project on the Southbank of the St. Johns River between the Main Street and Acosta bridges was from 1963-65 when “Dallas Thomas Park” was under construction. A few years later the name was changed to “Friendship Park” and now, 47 years later, construction is once again under way for the Friendship Fountain Park renovation project.Wednesday morning, standing near what was described when it opened in 1965 as “the world’s largest and tallest fountain,” Mayor John Peyton and other City officials celebrated the official start of the $3.1 million project. Concrete around the fountain and other areas of the park will be replaced by grass and trees.
