Liberty Pond
Liberty Pond overlooked by the Reitz Union sometime before the buildings's 2016 expansion
Liberty Pond is located in Florida
Liberty Pond
Liberty Pond
Location of Liberty Pond in Florida
LocationGainesville, Florida
Coordinates29°38′45″N 82°20′50″W / 29.6458033°N 82.3471212°W / 29.6458033; -82.3471212
Basin countriesUnited States
Residence timeYear round
Surface elevation121 feet (37 m)
SettlementsGainesville, Florida

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 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

  1. ^ a b "Liberty Pond proposed name change". Alachua County. Retrieved 2023-03-16.
  2. ^ a b "GNIS Entry - Liberty Pond". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2023-03-01.
  3. ^ "McCarty Woods on UF campus takes hit". Gainesville Sun. Retrieved 2023-03-02.
  4. ^ a b Brown II, C. David (June 7, 2013). "Naming of "Green Pond" to "Liberty Pond"" (PDF). University of Florida Board of Trustees.
  5. ^ O'Donnell, M (February 16, 2022). "Liberty Pond Proposal Packet". United States Board on Geographic Names. Retrieved 2022-06-10.
  6. ^ "Memorial Day roundup: Many ways to honor fallen veterans". Gainesville Sun. Retrieved 2023-03-22.
  7. ^ a b "Liberty Pond & Fountain". University of Florida Army ROTC. Retrieved 2023-03-02.
  8. ^ "SG moves to give Reitz pond facelift". The Independent Florida Alligator. Retrieved 2023-03-02.
  9. ^ "Reitz Union, University of Florida | David Conner and Associates". Archinect. Retrieved 2023-03-16.
  10. ^ "University of Florida on Instagram: "Liberty Pond at the @reitzunion."". Instagram. Retrieved 2023-03-20.
  11. ^ "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.
  12. ^ "BioGator | University of Florida Checklist: LIBERTY POND". BioGator. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
  13. ^ a b "Gainesville City Commission Final Agenda May 19, 2022" (PDF). City of Gainesville, Florida. May 19, 2022.
  14. ^ Stargel, Kelli (8 September 2022). "Legislative Budget Commission Agenda 8 September 2022" (PDF). Florida House of Representatives. p. 14.
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