Palm Beach Gardens

Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, is a Signature City which celebrates quality-of-life by fostering an environment of excellence.

With over 30% of land mass dedicated to green space, recreation programs tailored for residents of all ages, an award-winning Art in Public Places program, a pro-active business climate that embraces innovation and an intrinsic understanding of the balance between social and economic conditions, Palm Beach Gardens is much more than the ultimate vacation spot.

History

Prior to development, the land that became Palm Beach Gardens was primarily cattle ranches and pine forests, as well as swampland further west. In 1959, wealthy landowner and insurance magnate John D. MacArthur announced plans to develop 4,000 acres (16 km2) and build homes for 55,000 people. He chose the name Palm Beach Gardens after his initial choice, Palm Beach City, was denied by the Florida Legislature, because of the similarity of the name to the nearby Palm Beach. MacArthur planned to build a "garden city" so he altered the name slightly. The city was incorporated as a "paper town" (meaning that it existed only on paper) in 1959. The 1960 Census recorded that the city officially had a population of one, apparently a squatter whom MacArthur had allowed to stay on his property.

Rapid development took place in the 1960s. By 1970 the city had a population approaching 7,000 people. To showcase his new community, MacArthur purchased an 80-year-old banyan tree located in nearby Lake Park, that was to be cut down to enlarge a dentist's office. It cost $30,000 and 1,008 hours of manpower to move it. A second banyan was moved the following year. While moving the first banyan tree over the Florida East Coast Railway, the massive tree shifted and disconnected the Western Union telephone and telegraph lines running adjacent to the railroad, cutting off most communications between Miami, 80 miles (130 km) to the south, and the outside world until the damage could be repaired. These trees still remain at the center of MacArthur Boulevard near Northlake Boulevard and are still featured on the city shield. In January 2007, the great-grandson of impressionist artist Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Alexandre Renoir, presented a painting to the city which depicts the Gardens banyan tree. It is currently on display at the city hall on North Military Trail.

City growth was slow but steady throughout the 1970s and 1980s, as the population has still not reached the predicted 55,000 people envisioned by MacArthur. However, the opening of the 1,300,000-square-foot (120,000 m2) Gardens Mall in 1988 initiated a new wave of development, as did the sell off in 1999 of approximately 5,000 acres (20 km2) in the city by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. Development of this property happened quickly and led to much new growth in the city. The city adopted an Art in Public Places ordinance in 1989 and has amassed an eclectic collection of works.[4]

The Professional Golfers' Association of America has its headquarters in the city. There are 12 golf courses within the city limits, including a course owned by the municipality. Several PGA tournaments have been hosted in Palm Beach Gardens since 1971. The Honda Classic has been held at the PGA National Resort and Spa since 2007 and was held at the Country Club at Mirasol from 2003 to 2006; both are located in Palm Beach Gardens. Ameribank has their headquarters in Palm Beach Gardens. The Gardens Mall, PGA Commons, Legacy Place, and Downtown at the Gardens are the center of the city's retail market.

Notable residents

Gary Beach, Tony Award winning actor
Mark Calcavecchia, professional golfer on the PGA Tour
Scott Carpenter, one of the original Mercury Seven NASA astronauts selected in 1959 for Project Mercury
Gary Carter, Major League Baseball Hall of Fame catcher
Glen Day, professional golfer on the PGA Tour
Celine Dion, Canadian pop singer
Luke Donald, professional golfer on the PGA Tour
Jimmy Key, former Major League Baseball pitcher
Hank Kuehne, professional golfer on the PGA Tour
Thomas Levet, professional golfer on the PGA European Tour
Stacy Lewis, professional golfer on the LPGA Tour
Steve Marino, professional golfer on the PGA Tour
Chris Volstad, Major League Baseball pitcher for the Florida Marlins
Serena Williams, tennis professional
Venus Williams, tennis professional