The founder of the City of Palm Beach Gardens was John D. MacArthur…read more When he created his new community he wanted it to have a garden theme with streets named after flowers and trees. In the late 1960's MacArthur heard about someone who was going to cut down a banyan tree that was damaging her home. MacArthur arranged to have the tree moved to his new city new and pl;anted at the intersection of Northlake Boulevard and MacArthur Boulevard, formerly Garden Boulevard. Since the tree weighed 75 tons and was 60 feet high the city needed six months to prepare the tree for the move to its new location. On the morning of April 26, 1961 the tree was ready to be transplanted. Two cranes on two cargo trailers were sent to bring the tree to it's new home five miles away. Unfortunately disaster struck when a feed mill truck burst on the road cleared for the tree. Ten thousand gallons of molasses were dumped raising the height of the roadway. As it traveled the tree snapped several railway signal lines causing crossing gates to close. While the tree was crossing the train tracks one of the cables supporting it snapped. Workers had to saw off limbs of the tree to allow the blocked 1:30 train to get back on it's way. Just after 2 PM the tree was dropped into it's prepared hole. The Rev. A. P. Snyder of St. John's Evangelical Church said a prayer over the tree and MacArthur threw the first shovel of dirt over the roots of the tree. The entire process cost $30,000 and 1,008 hours of manpower. One year later, a second forty ton tree was moved from Lake Park next to the first tree. When people criticized Mr. MacArthur for spending so much to move the tree he replied "I can buy anything but age. This tree will be the centerpiece of our entrance, and while we could plant a little one there, I wouldn't be around 80 years from now to see it as it should be." Moving the tree gave MacArthur the nickname Banyan Mac. Although he was a developer, MacArthur was able to claim that "I built Palm Beach Gardens without knocking one tree down, I moved the biggest tree ever moved in Florida." MacArthur would go on to eventually move more than 200 trees including a sixty foot Norfolk pine that he replanted at the Colonnades Hotel on Singer Island and four more banyans which he floated on a barge from West Palm Beach. Today the landmark banyan trees have a limb span of half an acre. The trees are featured on the Palm Beach Gardens city shield. In 2007 Alexandre Renoir, a great-grandson of artist Pierre-Auguste Renoir, presented the City of Palm Beach Gardens with a painting of the trees. A historical marker was installed across from the trees in 2011.

The founder of Palm Beach Gardens was John D. MacArthur. He was born in poverty in Pennsylvania in…read more1897 and he made his first million at the age of 48. He became the owner of a $1 billion empire of insurance companies, land in eight states, including 100,000 acres in Florida, and investments that included Alamo car rental and MacArthur Scotch. Words used to describe him include "cantankerous. intelligent, tenacity, ruthless" By the time he died in 1978 at the age of 80 he was the second richest man in the country. He left his $1 billion fortune and his stewardship over northern Palm Beach County with no instructions to a foundation in his name that was set up the year he died. John D. MacArthur State Park is named for him. A statue of John D. MacArthur sits at the city hall entrance on Military Trail. The $140,000 bronze statue is seven-feet-six-inches tall and weighs 750 pounds. It was made by Philadelphia-based artist Zenos Frudakis and was paid for by the John D. MacArthur Foundation. The statue was unveiled November 21, 2010 as part of the city's 50th anniversary celebration. MacArthur sits on a three-foot-high granite base from a quarry in Vermont surrounded by park benches, concrete sidewalks, and landscaping. The artist planned to have MacArthur smoking his omnipresent cigarette so his arm is held up like he is holding one. I guess the city thought better about promoting something that causes cancer because there is no cigarette in his hand leaving a sort of awkward gesture. Behind the statue is a marker that talks about John D. MacArthur's life and the formation of Palm Beach Gardens. This is a good stop if you are interested in the history of the area.

Very helpful gentleman who owns the establishment. No pressure or sales gimmicks. Great selection…read moreof pedals, instruments and amps. This store is very pricey!!

Oh how I miss being home. It is so wonderful to see the many upgrades made to this marina since I…read morewas a kid swimming here. Today, is an absolutely stunning and amazing day to be out on the water. It is choppy and windy but not too bad. There's a beautiful cool breeze in the air with the sun hitting perfectly on my skin. No matter how nostalgic I'm feeling, I can't help but think about how expensive these older homes are, making me reconsider a move back. But it is gorgeous to just sit by the water and enjoy the view.

A Beautiful site to see! The warmth from the Sun and h cool breeze from the water, brings a nice…read morebalance of the two.

Palm Beach Gardens was founded in 1959 by John D. MacArthur. MacArthur was born in poverty in…read morePennsylvania in 1897 but he made his first million at the age of 48. He became the owner of a $1 billion empire of insurance companies, land in eight states, including 100,000 acres in Florida, and investments that included Alamo car rental and MacArthur Scotch. Words used to describe him included "cantankerous. intelligent, tenacity, ruthless." MacArthur purchased 4,000 acres of pine forest, swamp, and cattle pastures that would become the planned city of Palm Beach Gardens. He believed there was no human habitation but it turned out that he famously had to deal with one squatter, Charlie Cooper who had a trailer and chicken coop. MacArthur moved Cooper to a house he owned with running water, a toilet and septic tank and then went quickly cleared out his old Cooper homestead. By the time MacArthur died in 1978 at the age of 80 he was the second richest man in the country. He left his $1 billion fortune and his stewardship over northern Palm Beach County with no instructions to a foundation in his name that was set up the year he died. John D. MacArthur State Park is named in his honor. When creating Palm Beach Gardens, MacArthur wanted a garden theme with streets named after flowers and trees. The banyan tree became the symbol of the city. His first choice of town name was Palm Beach City but it was rejected for being too similar sounding to the Town of Palm Beach. One of the first things MacArthur did was to convince PGA of America to move to Palm Beach Gardens. He loaned them the money to build its first complex and he built two golf courses. He also convinced manufacturer RCA to move into town. PGA National resort community broke ground in 1978 and the Gardens Mall opened in 1988. Today Palm Beach Gardens has over 50,000 residents and is close to 60 square miles It has grown to be the largest city by area in Palm Beach County, larger than even West Palm Beach. One of the draws to Palm Beach Gardens is that there is so much to experience. For those seeking outdoor activities, the abundance of parks, trails, and recreational facilities ensures there's always something new to explore. Palm Beach Gardens is known for its natural beauty with meticulously manicured golf courses, parks like Gardens North County District Park and Lake Catherine Park, and natural areas such as Loxahatchee Slough, Frenchman's Forest, Prosperity Oaks Natural Area, and Blue Gill Trail. Palm Beach Gardens also has a rich cultural scene with art shows, and concerts throughout the year. The Gardens Green Market is held every Sunday from 8 to 1 at the City Hall Municipal Campus. For those looking to shop and dine look no further than the Downtown, a lifestyle and entertainment that opened in 2005 in Palm Beach Gardens. The 49 acre, 340,000-square-foot dining, shopping, and living center is anchored by Whole Foods Market, CMX Theatres (formerly called Cobb Theaters when the center opened), the Yard House, and Cheesecake Factory. PGA Commons is another great destination with a mix of residences, shopping, services, galleries, art, and dining. Don't miss Voo Doo Bayou Cafe, Avocado Cantina, The Cooper, and Alaina's Cafe & Bake Shoppe. People who live in Palm Beach Gardens praise its large city amenities while still maintaining a small town feeling. Whether you're drawn by its natural beauty, cultural vibrancy, or access to whatever you may need, Palm Beach Gardens offers a sanctuary where residents can live, work, and play in a harmonious blend of luxury and leisure.

Great place to live ... they're building a new baseball park right by my house and it makes the…read morewhole city look nice :)

I booked a 90-minute tour with Palm Beach Water Tours through Groupon, and it was money well spent…read more You climb on this Catamaran at the Riviera Beach Marina to go up and down the Intracoastal Waterway. They had some light snacks on board with water and soda. The tour included a nice mix of local history and sightseeing. They pointed out well-known or celeb homes and gave context about Palm Beach County, plus we cruised around Peanut Island. I wouldn't say I remember much about the guides' conversation on the tour, they were nice and friendly but honestly, the day and scenery did most of the talking for me. I tuned into that peace and serenity. It was a beautiful day on the water, calm ride, great views--just an all-around relaxing experience. I love being on the water, so this was right up my alley. Damnit, I should've been born a mermaid!!! If you're looking for something easy and scenic, this is a great way to spend an hour and a half. Definitely worth it, especially at any reduced price.

My mom wanted to try the palm beach guided tour for Mother's Day since we tried the Jupiter one a…read morefew years ago and loved it! They also had a great deal for mothers to come on free. It was such a lovely day and our tour guide, Sydney, and captain, Luke were great. They provide snacks and beverages on board and you can bring your own as well. It was so nice to learn all about the houses and history of Palm Beach and Peanut Island! Definitely recommend!

Lake Park Florida is 2.3 square miles of which .2 miles is water. You can easily walk the entire…read moretown. Harry Seymour Kelsey, a wealthy Bostonian joined the Florida land boom in 1919 when he bought 30,000 acres in north Palm Beach. Eventually he went on to own 100,000 acres. He founded Kelsey City and invested a million dollars. The firm Olmsted Brothers, Landscape Architects of Brookline, Massachusetts, and Dr. John Nolan of Boston were hired to lay the town out. The first lots of land Kelsey sold for development are where Kelsey Park stands today. Kelsey City was hit hard by the 1928 Hurricane. Eventual money problems with the IRS and the Great Depression forced Kelsey to go back to Massachusetts and sell his town. In 1939 residents voted to change the name of the town to Lake Park. After World War II, the population of the town increased with the addition of war veterans and their families. In the 1950's, John D. McArthur, founder of Palm Beach Gardens and the multimillionaire owner of Bankers Life & Casualty Company, invested large amounts of money in the area, including a new water system, and a private utility company to handle sewage treatment. Today over 8,000 people live in Lake Park. Landmarks include the historic town hall. Brewhouse Gallery, Florida Surfing Museum, Kelsey Theater, and Kelsey Park. it has cute antique stores and they hold an event called the Rust Market in the Lake Park Arts District where you can shop vintage furniture, repurposed items, local produce, handcrafted goods, artisans, and fleamarket treasures. You can get a charter boat from the marina for deep sea fishing and there are beaches and snorkeling spots nearby. The town is very close to the all of the attractions of the much larger City of West Palm Beach. Most people probably drive right past this tiny town if you take the time to stop and look around. the charm of this hidden jewel abounds.

Fantastic excursion with Captain Matt- we had a great family outing to celebrate a birthday and it…read morewas the perfect way for the 6 of us to spend our afternoon. Matt was gracious and informative (a great tour!) and ensured we had fun while also making us feel very safe. Would definitely go again.

Captain Matt was an amazing tour guide and we thoroughly enjoyed our boat trip out on the water…read moretoday. The kids loved their time snorkeling and finding fish. The business was easy to deal with, personable, went the extra mile to make us comfortable and very professional. Thank you, we will be back!

We went on the tiki boat for a friend's bachelorette and it was so much fun. We selected the 3 hour…read moreride and we had Captain Ryan for the day. He made sure we had a great time. The location was fantastic and shallow so we were able to walk around with ease and float on the floats. 10/10 would come back again.

Came out on a sunset cruise with the captain/owner and it was an awesome time on the water! Very…read moreknowledgeable about houses on the island, yachts in the water and the overall area. Grab a cooler and some snacks and take a two-hour tour. Cheers!

This is an e-commerce art gallery that design, create, and ship their own artwork by artist Jon…read moreAllen. They do have a small gallery you can visit by appointment only to look at their sculptures and metal wall pieces. I highly recommend.

From the owner: On the web, Statements2000.com is your home base for Jon’s classic, best-known metal art pieces…read more But did you know Statements2000 is also a real brick-and-mortar place that serves as our home base here in Lake Park, Florida? This is Jon’s primary studio and has been for many, many years. Statements2000 provides Jon with the structure, tools, and space to create his impressive range of original artwork and designs. Jon has a fantastic, dedicated team that operates out of Statements2000. He takes great pride in providing a creative work environment for people to thrive in. Each team member plays a vital role in daily operations including a skilled group of artist assistants, logistics/shipping department, in-house customer support, and a marketing team. Jon enjoys the journey. He has cultivated a team of people who share his vision and values. He has employed and mentored many talented people over the years and it is one of the most rewarding aspects of owning a small business. He is proud to be an employer who makes an impact in his local community. It has always been important to Jon to make everything with care here in the United States. Unwilling to ever compromise the level of quality and personal support we provide to our collectors, we will continue to grow the Statements2000 team and create premium handmade artwork for you (wherever you may be)!

I live in Singer Island and I believe that Riviera beach is the most poorly run city in Florida…read more Just incompetency. Water dept is a joke! Getting a permit for something as simple as a generator can take months! The inspectors in the field overseeing the permits are rude and nasty to deal With! They need to start over and hire new people who care and want to be part of a great city!

Stopped in today to file a police report. Someone has stolen my 2016 decal from my tag…read more Arrival time was 10:10 met a few nice officers around 11:20 that got me the report I needed. Thanks City of Riviera Beach.