The Two RV Gypsies: Full-Time RVers
explored Friendship Park
and The Treaty Oak at Jessie Ball Dupont Park
over 70-feet tall with a 25-foot wide trunk circumference, and over two centuries old
in Jacksonville, Florida
October 24, 2014

After getting off the water taxi, the two RV Gypsies found themselves at Friendship Park and Fountain. It was the world's largest and tallest fountain when it opened, and it has been one of Jacksonville's most recognizable and popular attractions.

The fountain and park were designed by Jacksonville architect Taylor Hardwick in 1963 and opened in 1965. The fountain's basin is 200 feet in diameter. The fountain's three pumps could push 17,000 US gallons of water per minute up to 10 stories in height. Friendship Fountain remained one of Jacksonville's signature attractions through the 20th century, but severe corrosion and deterioration to the equipment resulted in periodic closures in the 2000s. In 2011 the city completed a $3.2 million renovation to the fountain and the surrounding park.

Above quote from From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friendship_Fountain

The Fountain was originally called the "Fountain of Friendship in Dallas Thomas Park"at the suggestion of a Rotary Club member and Dallas Thomas after the city's parks and finance commissioner. However, when Thomas was later involved in a scandal and indicted, the park was renamed in 1968.

Below: The two RV Gypsies are not sure what the round building near the fountain is used for, but Karen Duquette found it interesting enough to photograph anyway.

Below; Karen Duquette liked the way a nearby building's reflection was warped onto the building shown below.

Below: Sesquicentennial Christmas Tree

Below: The two RV Gypsies liked the statue of children on stilts that was in a small round-about near the MOSH museum.

Below: A statue, small fountain, and USA flag

Below: The John T Alsop Bridge

Below: The two RV Gypsies walked on the John T Alsop Bridge and took a photo from both sides of the bridge.

Jessie Ball DuPont Park is a 7-acre park on the south side of the St. Johns River in downtown Jacksonville. Most of the land surrounding the tree was the location of the Dixieland Amusement Park, which opened in 1907. The preserve is now named in honor of Jessie Ball duPont, an ardent philanthropist and part-time Jacksonville resident, after her death in 1970. It is ironic that the smallest nature park in Jacksonville has the largest tree. The park contains paved walk paths, a score of benches, a handful of picnic tables and informational plaques. It is a favorite spot for workers in nearby buildings who eat lunch, read a book or just sit and converse in the shade of its canopy.

Below: The Treaty Oak is an octopus-like Southern live oak (Quercus virginiana), estimated to be 250 years old and may be the single oldest living thing in Jacksonville, predating the founding of the city during the 1820s. The name's origin is generally believed to be related to some local apocryphal stories about peace accords between Native Americans and Spanish or American settlers signed under its branches. In reality, the name was created by the Florida Times-Union journalist Pat Moran who, in an attempt to rescue it from destruction by developers, wrote an article in the early 1930s claiming a treaty had been signed at the site by native Floridians and early settlers and called it Treaty Oak. Prior to that, the tree was known simply as Giant Oak.

The tree has a trunk over 25 feet in circumference. It rises to height of 70 feet, and its crown spreads over 145 feet, with twisting branches that bow to the ground and curl back up. The oak shades a roughly circular area, about 190 feet in diameter.

A major project was completed in 1995 to preserve the tree and enhance the park, which was completed through the efforts of the city and private groups and individuals. Cables were installed in the tree to support limbs that threatened to damage the trunk, and a lightning protection system was installed.

In 2006, the Jessie Ball duPont Fund awarded $150,000 to the city to cover repairs and renovations to Jessie Ball duPont Park and to maintain and preserve the health of the Treaty Oak, which arborists estimate could live another 400 years.

Pictures cannot begin to do justice to this magnificent tree. It must be seen to be believed. Absolutely amazing and beyond words.

Below: Time for the two RV Gypsies to board the water taxi back to Jacksonville Landing in 2014.