BRICK PROJECT

If you recently visited Liberty Tree Park or attended Art in the Park in the past 2 years and noticed the wide brick paved walkways, the new benches and the new playground equipment, you may not realize that this park did not always look like it does today.

Down on the corner of 5th Street and 74th Avenue is a piece of paradise for many. A quiet neighborhood park, with squirrels galore, a wonderful playground, and a path that meanders around with benches to sit and relax. However, on the last weekend in October, it becomes alive with music, art and food during ART IN THE PARK. A very special event.

In early 2000, the Plantation Junior Woman's Club (us) was looking for a suitable project to commemorate our 40^th year of existence. We decided to assist the City of Plantation in obtaining a new look for Liberty Tree Park, the home of our annual art show and festival known as Art in the Park. Since the Pillar Project (brick columns at the entrances of historic Plantation streets undertaken by PJWC as a Beautification Project in conjunction with Plantation residential neighborhoods) was just about completed, several members of PJWC thought the park would be enhanced by replacing the cracked and broken concrete walkways with brick walkways.

The Brick Project, headed by Sue Kuzia, President in 1999 – 2000, was formed to finance the brick walkways by selling engraved bricks to the general public. The City loved the idea.

On a rainy day in April, in conjunction with the soggy celebration of PJWC's 40th Anniversary and attended by many of our members, Mayor Rae Carole Armstrong (a former PJWC President herself), several Council members and other Plantation notables, broke ground and the brick project became a reality.

Judy Ackerman (Originator of the Pillar Project), Jan Snyder, Sue Kuzia, President, Mayor Armstrong, Councilmen Merritt and Hillier, and Jeff Siegel, Landscape Architect Pitch in breaking ground

Of course, the park had to be closed off for many months and PJWC nervously awaited the completion of this project as Art in the Park, traditionally held the last weekend in October, was fast approaching. Many of our members drove by daily trying to be confident that the art show was not going to be cancelled.

This was only weeks before Art in the Park

The City, and U.S. Brick came through as usual and Art in the Park 2000 opened with a brand new look and hundreds of engraved bricks to show for it. Even the artist spaces are engraved in the bricks with our Art In the Park logo.

This is an ongoing project and we are still selling engraved bricks to continue to underwrite the cost of this project. Engraved bricks are a wonderful way to celebrate any occasion. So consider ordering one or more for your family or friends and be one of the many walking around looking down at the ground around the gazebo trying to read their brick upside-down!

Applications can be picked up in the lobby at City Hall or by mail by calling the hotline (954) 797-9762. If you want an application sent to you via email, click here: mailto:pjwcmail@aol.com or click BRICK APPLICATION 2004 to print one out.