JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The city is paying an engineering firm about $500,000 to decide the future of a 40-year-old Jacksonville landmark.

The company suggested making Jacksonville's Friendship Fountain interactive, meaning the fountain of today might be gone tomorrow.

"If it isn't broke, don't fix it," said one man enjoying the fountain. "Don't tear it down."

Many people relaxing around the fountain on Thursday were surprised to hear the fountain is broken and has been for years. They were even more surprised about the city's plan to build a new fountain, instead of fixing it.

The city said it's too late to fix the Friendship Fountain, which was the highest fountain in the southeast when it was built in 1965. They also said it would cost too much to restore it to its former glory.

"It can't be done at any kind of a reasonable cost," said Mayor's Office spokeswoman Susie Wiles.

Thus, the city sent out a request to redesign the fountain and the entire park.

The winning company said it wants to get more public input on the plan. Its report stated, "Redesign of the fountain for it to be interactive with children will be essential for its total benefit."

The city wants to move Kids Kampus to the site and make Friendship Fountain more kid friendly.

"So, if we can redesign a fountain, keeping with the same tradition of Friendship Fountain, make it more tuned in with the river, more accessible to families and uses, we think that is money well spent," Wiles said.

The city said a rough price tag for the project was about $4 million to replace the fountain and redcostruct the area surrounding it.

The city is expected to have several public hearings to get ideas from people about how to rebuild the fountain.