Save the fountain at Lake Eola?

[Parrotrosie]

Originally Posted by History Rules

How much would it cost to sink the fountain? I love the idea of filling in the sinkhole. It has no purpose at all, put in some tennis courts, some basketball and let there be some available recreation downtown, like in all real cities. Lake Eola serves no purpose, you can't fish in it, you can't swim in it and you can't bicycle around it. What purpose does it serve. Filling it in with tennis and basketball and a big park would add value to a city that has nothing and offers nothing.

And I can tell you first hand what you get when you put in these types of free rec activities in a park area in the middle of a city. Hoodlums.

Here is a nice article all about the revamping of the FAMILY areas of this 43 acre park (23 of which is the lake)
LandscapeOnline.com :: Article : Lake Eola Park, Orlando FL: Reinventing a Downtown Destination

I have been reading about what folks like about this park, I see words like, wildlife, trees, romantic, lanscape, city skyline, fountains and the sounds of cascading water, bird life, flowers and trees, bring your dogs there, nice walking/jogging/biking trail around the lake..., open areas, shaded areas, nature, close to the restaurants and vendors of goodies such as books and doggie clothes (lol).

Family parks and hoodlums don't mix. Add that into the apparent homeless issues that are seemingly under better control for the most part, and you will quickly see a spiral in the 'family use' of this park. Hoodlums will make short order out of families trying to use this park. I have seen it happen. I think it would be a mistake to 'concrete over' the lake. My personal two cents...lol. There is YMCA nearby that provides these amenities...keep the park the way many folks enjoy it...it is apparenty a very well loved and used park!

[AONE]

I think the fountain needs to be restored. it is a spectacular fountain I came here from KC which has some fantastic fountains that really make it a special place. Likewise the Eola fountain does the same for Orlando. I use the fountain on my business cards and on my web page. I would share the link but don't want moderators thinking I'm advertising. ApexOne and the profession if you want to deduce what it is.

Lake Eola fountain: Lightning kills downtown Orlando's iconic Lake Eola fountain -- chicagotribune.com

The Eola fountain is certainly part of what makes Orlando a beautiful city.

http://img.groundspeak.com/waymarkin...0c21d8e082.jpg

Here are some in KC

http://www.donaldsmith.org/kcf110.jpg (broken link)

http://www.spiralpocus.com/wp-conten...sefountain.png

http://tours.360kc.com/100/Fountain%...0360%20web.JPG

http://moriahjovan.com/mojo/wp-conte...e-fountain.jpg

Fountains make a good city great.

[kshe95girl]

Originally Posted by bdpop

You've got to be kidding!!!!! This is one of the few Orlando icons. It is part of the identity of Orlando.

Also, think of the added expense of changing all the literature and such that include the fountain in pictures. The COC may go broke!

Originally Posted by DailyJournalist

How? The city has no money! An alternative must be chosen. Removal of the fountain all together would be the cheapest option. Also possibly raising the City of Orlando sales tax temporarily to finance the fountain may be another choice.

Yes, by all means, fill it in, the City Beautifuls seal will look SO much better featuring a tennis court. Another tennis court is JUST what Orlando needs.
There are several efforts underway to raise the $$$ privately, through fundraisers........look at some of the Orlando blogs.......

[Parrotrosie]

Originally Posted by DailyJournalist

How? The city has no money!

Actually, I was reading that the city does have a 1 million dollar insurance policy on the fountain...of course I was puzzled, because there is a half million dollar deductible...I am thinking...what is the point here...

But in any event, the city will only need to raise half of the million needed to repair the fountain. If they can indeed turn to the private fundraising, as mention by another poster, then, the other half mil will be covered by the insurance.

[Lindsey_Mcfarren]

Originally Posted by Pete C

I assume you all know by now that the Centennial Fountain at Lake Eola has been hit by lightning, and would cost over a million dollars to fix. There is a poll over at the Orlando Sentinel, and a majority of people want to fix it. Some others say replace it with something better. I can say that once you have seen it with the water off as it stands now, it is pretty ugly...it's an eyesore in fact. However, then it is running, I find it to be a beautiful fountain and of impressive size. Most fountains are not nearly as large or impressive. That said, they could probably do better if they are going to spend all that money anyway. Should they repair the historic city icon or go with a completely new design? I'd be perfectly fine with either option, however I would not be okay with a 'no fountain' option. This city's downtown needs that identity.

I say people with the expertise should donate their time to help fix it and a minimal amount of money be spent on a water feature in the middle of a man made lake when just down the road there are homeless people sleeping under an overpass !!

[annerk]

If they can raise the money in donations, I think it should be repaired. At this point, no tax dollars should be spent on it.

And frankly there are plenty of people who donate plenty of money to help the homeless, if people wish to donate to fix the fountain, that's their business and no one elses.