NewsLine staff
Three Nassau County Rotary clubs joined forces to donate public drinking fountains at two downtown Fernandina Beach locations, marking the 100th anniversary of the Rotary Club of Fernandina Beach.
The Rotary Club of Fernandina Beach, along with the Rotary Clubs of Amelia Island Sunrise and Greater Nassau and the local Rotary District, donated a standalone drinking fountain at the Amelia Island Welcome Center on Centre Street and two wall drinking fountains at the new waterfront park restrooms, a recent release said. Both locations include plaques commemorating the donated fountains.
The fountains are ADA compliant, promote water bottle refilling and provide a pet-level drinking spout. The release noted the fountains are expected to serve more than 1 million people and pets visiting downtown Fernandina Beach each year.
Suzanne Amos, president of the Rotary Club of Fernandina Beach, said the project illustrates how club membership translates awareness of a need into action. “This project is a perfect example of the three Rotary Clubs in our area ‘Uniting for Good’ under the global slogan for this Rotary Year,” Amos said in the release. “The plaques allow Rotary’s 100 years of ‘Service Above Self’ to be seen by generations ahead!”
Mary Valenta, president of the Rotary Club of Amelia Island Sunrise, said matching funds from the Rotary District and cooperation from City of Fernandina Beach staff allowed the fountains to be installed in time for the waterfront park opening.
Vicki Beaudry, president of the Rotary Club of Greater Nassau, said, “We are all one Rotary, working together for the greater good of the community!”
The release noted that in 2025 the local Rotary clubs also sponsored a water cart for Keep Nassau Beautiful. Clean drinking water is a focus of Rotary International and its local clubs, the release said.
The Rotary Club of Fernandina Beach meets Wednesdays at noon at Story & Song. The Rotary Club of Amelia Island Sunrise meets Fridays at 7:30 a.m. at Fernandina Beach Golf Club. The Rotary Club of Greater Nassau meets Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. at Amelia National Club.
