Liberty Pond (historically Green Pond)[1] is a body of water on the campus of the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida.[2][3][4] The pond is named in honor of students and alumni of the university who have served in the United States Armed Forces.[5] The pond has a veterans' memorial on its north shore and acts as a venue for memorial ceremonies held by local veterans' organizations.[6][7]
| Liberty Pond | |
|---|---|
 Liberty Pond overlooked by the Reitz Union sometime before the buildings's 2016 expansion | |
  Liberty Pond Location of Liberty Pond in Florida | |
| Location | Gainesville, Florida |
| Coordinates | 29°38′45″N 82°20′50″W / 29.6458033°N 82.3471212°W |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Residence time | Year round |
| Surface elevation | 121 feet (37 m) |
| Settlements | Gainesville, Florida |
Liberty Pond is overlooked by the J. Wayne Reitz Union, the student union of the University of Florida.[8][9] The lake is a landmark on campus and has occasionally been included in social media marketing for the university and associated organizations.[10][11]
Liberty Pond is over 100-years old and is likely a sinkhole lake.[7] The pond is home to various species of alligators, birds (ranging from finches to hawks), and small mammals such as armadillos.[12]
The pond was known as Green Pond until 2013, when the university board of trustees officially renamed the lake.[4] In 2022, the US Board on Geographic Names officially recognized the name change after efforts by a student of the university.[2][13] The name was additionally recognized by local, regional, and state officials.[1][13][14]
References
edit- ^ a b "Liberty Pond proposed name change". Alachua County. Retrieved 2023-03-16.
- ^ a b "GNIS Entry - Liberty Pond". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2023-03-01.
- ^ "McCarty Woods on UF campus takes hit". Gainesville Sun. Retrieved 2023-03-02.
- ^ a b Brown II, C. David (June 7, 2013). "Naming of "Green Pond" to "Liberty Pond"" (PDF). University of Florida Board of Trustees.
- ^ O'Donnell, M (February 16, 2022). "Liberty Pond Proposal Packet". United States Board on Geographic Names. Retrieved 2022-06-10.
- ^ "Memorial Day roundup: Many ways to honor fallen veterans". Gainesville Sun. Retrieved 2023-03-22.
- ^ a b "Liberty Pond & Fountain". University of Florida Army ROTC. Retrieved 2023-03-02.
- ^ "SG moves to give Reitz pond facelift". The Independent Florida Alligator. Retrieved 2023-03-02.
- ^ "Reitz Union, University of Florida | David Conner and Associates". Archinect. Retrieved 2023-03-16.
- ^ "University of Florida on Instagram: "Liberty Pond at the @reitzunion."". Instagram. Retrieved 2023-03-20.
- ^ "Southern California Gator Club on Instagram: '@uflorida's Liberty Pond is a 100 year old pond that lies within the Veterans' Memorial...'". Instagram. Retrieved 2023-03-20.
- ^ "BioGator | University of Florida Checklist: LIBERTY POND". BioGator. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
- ^ a b "Gainesville City Commission Final Agenda May 19, 2022" (PDF). City of Gainesville, Florida. May 19, 2022.
- ^ Stargel, Kelli (8 September 2022). "Legislative Budget Commission Agenda 8 September 2022" (PDF). Florida House of Representatives. p. 14.