By Gerry Witoshynsky, City Historian and Historical Museum Director

 

Pembroke Pines was incorporated in 1960 when 98% of 425 voters cast “yes” votes in Ernon Day’s carport. The less than a square mile property was between Pembroke Road (south) and then Hollywood Boulevard (north) and SW 72 Avenue (west) and the Florida Turnpike (east). Dr. Seth Kipnis was the first mayor, who presided over a 7 member Board of Alderman (or councilmen/women).

 

This first section of Pembroke Pines had been a dairy farm pasture, as had most of the western habitable reaches of southwest Broward County along the University Drive area. In 1943, pioneer dairy farmer Henry D. Perry turned over 640 acres to the U.S. Navy for a flight-training field between Pembroke Road and Hollywood Boulevard. After World War II, the airport was deeded to Broward County by the U.S. Navy for small plane use. During the winter, there may be two or three advertising blimps operating out of the airport and U.S. Coast Guard helicopters practicing search and rescue skills.

 

In 1961, Dr. Kipnis was re-elected and a city manger was hired. This city council/city manager form of government has been used since then which means that the mayor and council develop rules and regulations and the city manager carries them out.

 

The city was blocked from westward expansion by the square-mile county owned North Perry airport and South Florida State Hospital to its west. A developer, Joseph LaCroix, agreed to have his 320 acres north of Pines Boulevard and east of Davie Road Extension annexed into the city. This gave the little town its pathway for western expansion. In 1980, the largest piece of property from Flamingo Road to US 27 was annexed, which doubled the city’s size. The annexation included the county’s CB Smith Park at Pines Boulevard and Flamingo Road.

 

As the city grew, it set aside property for parks and recreation. All kinds of sports could be played on well kept lighted fields. Several recreation centers allowed indoor activities and classes, such as art and music at Fletcher Park. The city built special rinks for roller blade hockey.

 

Pembroke Pines continued in what it started as a fine residential community that had all types of housing, which included single family, town homes, condominiums, and apartments. It also provided its own police and fire departments. The large Memorial Healthcare system built a full-service hospital in the center of town at Flamingo Road next to the Pembroke Lakes Mall.

 

Pembroke Pines’ first city hall was located at 6700 SW 13th Street. In 1976, city hall then moved to 10211 Taft Street. In October 1988, a modernistic building was dedicated at the Southwest corner of Palm Avenue and Pines Boulevard.

 

A natural disaster led to a huge increase in population. In August 1992, Hurricane Andrew tore through the Homestead area south of Miami. Many of the people with wrecked homes turned north to the new subdivisions being built in Pembroke Pines. This increase in population resulted in overcrowded schools and roads. With Mayor, Alex G. Fekete in the lead, the City of Pembroke Pines started its own charter school system, and now has three elementary, two middle, and one high school. The student population in these schools is over 4,600. A huge new Broward County institution, Charles Flanagan High School, serves the western area of Pembroke Pines. It is located near the Walter C. Young Resource Center, a Broward County Library branch.

 

A student may spend 16 years of school in the city by attending Broward Community College South campus in eastern Pembroke Pines or at the Academic Village branch. The student could then go onto Florida Atlantic University, which is also located at Academic Village.

 

In 1984, the residents voted to adopt a districting system for city government. There would be four commissioners, each elected from a specific district, and a mayor voted on by all the residents. Districts would be re-arranged as the city expanded in size and population.

 

While the city grew, the highways, especially Pines Boulevard, were widened to help move the heavy traffic. Pines Boulevard is the city’s main street with Pembroke Road on the south border and Sheridan Street on the north. US 27 gives access to the center of the state and Lake Okeechobee areas. The Florida Turnpike, on our eastern border, turns from the Miami area up the east coast, and the new superhighway, I-75, heads across the Everglades and up Florida’s west coast.