Parks & Recreation

7421 NW 5th Street

The original "5th Street Park" was named Liberty Tree Park in 1976.  A full grown oak tree was planted among the existing landscaping as part of a national Oak tree planting project honoring the country's first "Liberty Tree" that was planted in Boston in 1646.  Its signature gazebo, brick pathways and bronze statue were donated by the Junior Woman's Club throughout the years.

The City of Plantation purchased the 4.98-acre property that was adjacent to the existing Liberty Tree Park from the Elk’s Club in December 2003 for approximately $2 million, using funding from the Broward County 2000 Safe Parks and Land Preservation grant. (The Liberty Tree Park Expansion project was the only project approved unanimously by all 13 Preservation Board members.)  The park now totals 9.28 acres.

Phase I of the expansion concluded in April 2009, and included a brick paver pathway, landscaping and berms, par course exercise equipment, benches, bike racks, a 400 square-foot picnic shelter, four picnic tables and a water fountain.

Funding for the improvements was provided by the State of Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program (FRDAP) grant, in the amount of $95,900, along with a City match of $95,000. Sponsorships were also secured from local businesses for the par course equipment.

Phase II of construction includes a comfort station and restroom, designed by Plantation's Design & Construction Director, Danny Ezzeddine, to be entirely "green."

In 2006, the City of Plantation received funds from the Recreational Trails Program grant in the amount of $131,640 to build a comfort station and restroom, three park benches, an outdoor trash receptacle and a bike rack along the Central City (NW 5th Street) multi-use recreation trail. The comfort station will be located in the southwest corner of the new Liberty Tree Park expansion, and will also serve patrons of Liberty Tree Park.

In October 2007, the City also received a “Parks for People” grant (available only to those communities that purchased land through the 2000 Safe Parks and Land Preservation Grant program) in the amount of $73,815. The Parks for People grant provides money for “green” construction. It will help fund the recycled plank fencing around the perimeter of the expansion area, as well as the green elements for the comfort station, such as waterless urinals, no-VOC paint, pervious pavers, solar-powered faucets, toilets with dual flush valves, passive solar lighting and photovoltaic lighting. The Parks for People grant is administered by the Broward County Biological Resources Division of the Environmental Protection Department.

The Comfort Station will not only provide an amenity to the residents and general public, but also demonstrate the City’s commitment to retaining its Gold certification through the Florida Green Building Coalition's "Green Local Government" program.

The park was renamed Rae Carole Armstrong Liberty Tree Park in September 2009, in honor of Plantation's current Mayor.  It is home to the annual Plantation Junior Woman's Club event, Art in the Park.