Biography
My name is Thomas Connell and I am a sophomore in the honors college at Florida International University. I am an electrical engineering major at the college of engineering. My goal is to graduate and work on the different space exploration projects at NASA. I love to travel and to experience new things because life always has an adventure up ahead.
Geography
Pembroke Pines is a large residential area that is 33.12 square miles according to the United States Census Bureau and its coordinates are 26.0078° N, 80.2963° W according to latlong.net.
History
Pembroke Pines saw growth and expansion following WWII and the governments desire to build new roads and highways and the Florida turnpike cut through what was the village of Pembroke Pines and with the influx of families the village of Pembroke Pines became just Pembroke Pines and was officially incorporated into the United States in 1960. Pembroke Pines created the first senior care center in its county and was the prototype for senior care services in the 1990’s all while being on of the fastest growing cities in America.
Demographics
Pembroke Pines currently has a population of 172,374 with a growth of 11.3% since 2010. The 64.3% of the population are in the civilian work force. The average property value is $264,700 and the average income is $66,816. The houses have a 71.7% ownership rate. The population is middle class shown by the ownership rate and the average income and average house price. The average household is 2.8 people so there is a lot of families with 1 or no Children
The population is mostly white people where 65.5% of residents are white and is followed by Black/African American with 21.7% and followed by Asian only with 4.9% and following that is 2.5% mixed Races where 43% of that group are Hispanic or Latino.
Landmarks
CB Smith Park:
CB smith Park is a 296.25 acre park full of possibilities for activities from Golf, picnicking and basketball to their Water park. The beautiful greenery gives a ton of activities and leave you able to spend hours there with tree cover and entertainment to last multiple weekends full of fun.
Website: https://www.broward.org/Parks/Pages/park.aspx?park=5
Address: 900 N. Flamingo Rd., Pembroke Pines, FL 33028
Phone number: 954-357-5170
North Perry Airport
North Perry Airport was a key part of helping Pembroke Pines become what it is today because it would not be as large as it is now without its acquisition of the airport which would have other wise prevented Pembroke Pines’ westward expansion so it marks an important milestone to Pembroke Pines’ growth.
Address: 101 SW 77th Way Pembroke Pines, FL 33023
Phone Number: 954-359-1016
Green
Ashley W. Hale Park
This park is dedicated to the Vice Mayor of Pembroke pines and it offers 3.28 Acres to walk and multiple benches, playgrounds and basketball courts. It is open from 7 am to dusk from Monday to Saturday
Address: NW 106 Terrace & NW 18 Place Pembroke Pines, FL 33026
Phone Number: 954-392-2130
Ben Fiorendino Park
This park is dedicated to the mayor Fiorendino and is just over 5 acres log with a walking or jogging path and large pavilions to sit and rest and there are multiple exercise stations along the path to stop and workout. The hours are from Dawn to Dusk everyday except Saturday when it is 8 am to 6 pm.
Address: 10211 Taft St. Pembroke Pines, FL 33026
Phone Number: 954-392-2130
Flamingo Park
My personal favorite park on account of the large baseball fields and longer hours. There are 2 pavilions, 2 playgrounds and 11 baseball/softball fields. Their hours are from 7 am to 11 pm from Monday to Saturday and on Sunday the hours are from 8 am to 6pm.
Address: 1900 NW 122nd Terrace Pembroke Pines, FL 33026
Phone Number: 954-392-2130
Fletcher Art and Culture Center/ Fletcher Park
This Park and Art and Culture center is named to honor Donnith H. Fletcher, who was the first individual from Pembroke Pines to be killed in the Vietnam War. This center offers Baseball fields and cages, Art classes and art camps. The Hours of operation are 7 am – 11 pm.
Address: 7960 Johnson Street Pembroke Pines, FL 33026
Phone Number: 954-986-5027
Frank C. Ortis Art Gallery and Exhibit Hall at City Center
The Frank is an art center designed for those who come in to think and grow and to create a thoughtful, creative community who comes together and shares ideas. The Frank has curators and artist come and share works to the community. The hours of operation are from 11 am to 5 pm from Tuesday to Saturday and is closed on Monday and Sunday.
Address: 601 City Center Way Pembroke Pines, FL 33025
Phone Number: 954-392-2120
Transportation
Pembroke Pines has multiple highways that pass through it such as the 75 and the Florida turnpike which gives accessibility to travel to cities such as Miami and Fort Lauderdale and gives quick access to Beaches. Pembroke Pines also offers Public Transportation in the form of the Broward County Transit which runs through Pembroke Pines and nearby cities and is only closed on Sundays and some holidays which are New Year’s Day, Dr. Martin Luther King’s Day, Presidents Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas.
Since the Broward County Transit is the only public transport, most Pembroke Pines residents own and drive cars to work. Which the average drive time for residents is 31 minutes to go to their work. Significant roads in Pembroke Pines is Sheridan Street and Pembroke road as they extend long and actually define the border of the City of Pembroke Pines.
Food
Pembroke Pines has a large offering of restaurants and grocery stores so that food is always accessible. For Grocery stores there is whole foods, Publix, Costco, Walmart and The Fresh Market. The restaurants in the area arealso amazing.
Baitong Thai and Sushi bar restaurant
A Thai and sushi restaurant with amazing fresh food and some of the best sushi in the Pembroke Pines area with fresh and flavorful seafood and Thai cuisine. It is a recent addition in the Pembroke Pines area but has quickly became a favorite spot of mine to eat at. They offer dine in and delivery. The food never disappoints and is a meal I’d love to have every day. The restaurant’s hours of operation is Monday through Sunday from 11:30 am to 3 pm then after a lunch break it reopens at 4:30 pm to 10 pm and closes at 11 on Friday and Saturday.
Website: https://www.baitongthaisushibar.com/
Address: 2026 N Flamingo Rd, Pembroke Pines, FL 33028
Phone Number: 954-498-2459
A great spot for lots of food and shopping is The Shops at Pembroke Gardens. It is an outdoor mall where you walk from building to building to different stores and restaurants. Some restaurants include:
Lime Fresh Mexican Grill
Lime was apart of Pembroke Gardens since it was first made in 2007 and has always continued to create consistent, delicious food and a fun atmosphere for the 12 years it has been there. Each time I go the workers are friendly, the food is made quickly, the quality is amazing and I feel filled up. Lime is and always been a highlight of the day when I go and when I want Mexican food I know where to go. They offer dine in, delivery and pick up services. Their hours of operation are Monday through Sunday from 11 am to 10 pm.
Website: https://limefreshmexicangrill.com/
Address: 601 SW 145th Terrace, Pembroke Pines, FL 33027
Phone number: 954-436-4700
Brimstone Woodfire Grill
Brimstone is a American food restaurant focused in steaks, The food flavorful and savory and the service is good. It is an excellent spot to enjoy a night out and have a good meal. The restaurant hours are from 11:30 am to 10:00 pm on Sunday to Thursday and the hours are 11:30 am to 11:00 pm on Friday and Saturday.
Website: http://brimstonewoodfiregrill.com/
Address: 14575 SW 5TH STREET, PEMBROKE PINES, FLORIDA 33027
Phone Number: 954 430 2333
The Habit Burger Grill
Habit Grill is a burger restaurant that blows away its competition. The burgers are some of the best I’ve ever had and there always make me want some more after the first burger. They offer a variety of chicken sandwiches and all are amazing in their own right. Habit grill is a spot where I go eat and 5 minutes later I am wanting another burger. Their hours of operation are from 11 am to 8 pm Sunday -Thursday and 11 am to 9 pm Friday and Saturday.
Website: https://www.habitburger.com/locations/pembroke-pines/
Address: 306 SW 145th Ave #111, Pembroke Pines, FL 33027
Phone number: 954-367- 2241
Businesses
Dick’s Sporting Goods
Dick’s is an excellent store to shop and gather all the supplies for outdoor activities you’ll need with a wide variety of shoes, cleats, sports clothing and gear and for fishing, football. Pretty much anything you might want to do the regards outdoor fun, you will find it at Dick’s. Their hours of operation are Monday – Saturday 10 am to 8 pm and Sunday 10 am to 6 pm.
Website: https://stores.dickssportinggoods.com/fl/pembroke/669/?seo=localpack
Address: 11940 Pines Blvd, Pembroke Pines, FL 33026
Phone Number: 954 430 5873
Lowe’s Home Improvement
Lowe’s is a home improvement store with all the tools necessary to remodel or refurbish your home. For example, My father and I remade our downstairs bathroom all with supplies from Lowe’s. Their Hours of operation are 6 am to 7 pm Monday – Saturday and 7 am to 7 pm on Sunday.
Address: 130 N University Dr, Pembroke Pines, FL 33024
Phone Number:954 624 1900
Pembroke Pines has another Mall which is Pembroke Lakes Mall. The mall offers many stores but specifically Macy’s
Macy’s
Macy’s is a department store store in which you have an assortment of brands where you can search for just about any brand you might want to buy. It offers many options for clothes, jewelry and cologne. Whenever you need something, odds are Macy’s has it. A bonus is that I’m pretty sure there is an ice cream shop in the mall so you can have a treat after shopping.
Website: https://l.macys.com/pembroke-lakes-mall-in-pembroke-pines-fl
Address: 11605 Pines Blvd, Pembroke Pines, FL 33026
Phone number: 954 438 2400
Summary
Pembroke Pines is an amazing residential space that is nearby many fun places like downtown Miami, Fort Lauderdale beach and the everglades which provides amble opportunity for fun excursions in the nearby area and within we have so many parks to visit and enjoy. The Pembroke Pines community has so many food options that can be enjoyed. I only highlighted a few of my favorites but there’s excellent places such as cheese course and Anthony’s coal fired pizza I didn’t mention. The shopping experience gives an enormous amount of choices especially with the Pembroke lakes mall and The Shops at Pembroke Gardens and this gives a very extensive selection in foods and shopping services where I hadn’t mentioned how many nail salons there are in Pembroke pines.
All in All I am very glad I dove into and researched my home city because there is more history and information about it that I hadn’t known about so it is a very educational and enjoyable experience for me to learn more about where I was raised and the place I love.
Interview
I interviewed George Scholander, a Pembroke Pines resident in the Towngate community
Q: How long have you been living in Pembroke Pines?
A: 17 years
Q: How have seen Pembroke Pines develop over the years?
A: There has been a growth in the number of plazas and when I was here originally there was no Pembroke Gardens which is a big spot for people to go to so it is interesting to see the changes the city has gone through.
Q: What do you enjoy to do in Pembroke Pines?
A: I enjoy golfing and going to CB smith park for a fun day at the water park.
Q: If had the option to live elsewhere, would you?
A: At retirement, yes but right now I’m going to stay because this is a good place to raise a family.
References
https://www.latlong.net/place/pembroke-pines-fl-usa-27923.html
https://www.ppines.com/352/Demographics
https://www.ppines.com/Facilities?clear=False
https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/pembrokepinescityflorida/PST045219
https://l.macys.com/pembroke-lakes-mall-in-pembroke-pines-fl
https://stores.dickssportinggoods.com/fl/pembroke/669/?seo=localpack
https://www.habitburger.com/locations/pembroke-pines
http://brimstonewoodfiregrill.com
https://limefreshmexicangrill.com/
https://www.baitongthaisushibar.com/
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