PGA Mall Shooting: Active shooter, heavy police at The Gardens Mall in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
Palm Beach Gardens Mall Shooting Investigations: Multiple law enforcement officials are responding to a shooting report at the Palm Beach Gardens Mall in Florida Wednesday. According to reports, locals have been urged to avoid The Gardens Mall located at 3101 PGA Boulevard, Palm Beach Gardens, FL following a report of an active shooter.
According to the police scanner a shooter was located in the mall vicinity moments ago. At least three dozen law enforcement vehicles and ambulances have been seen driving down to the scene.
According to reports, at least ten shots were fired in the mall vicinity. Law enforcement agencies say one male has been taken into custody following the incident. At the time of this publication, law enforcement agencies has not confirmed if there are any injuries. Everyone is urged to continue avoiding the location.
About PGA Mall
Before its development, the area that eventually became Palm Beach Gardens consisted mainly of cattle ranches, pine forests, and swampland located further to the west. In 1959, affluent landowner and insurance tycoon John D. MacArthur declared his intentions to develop a land area of 4,000 acres (16 km2) and construct residential properties to accommodate a population of 55,000 individuals.
He selected the name Palm Beach Gardens as an alternative to his original proposal, Palm Beach City, which was rejected by the Florida Legislature due to its resemblance to the neighboring Palm Beach. MacArthur had a concept to construct a “garden city” and subsequently made a small modification to its name. In 1959, the city was officially established as a “paper town,” indicating that its existence was solely documented on paper.
According to the 1960 Census, the city’s population was officially listed as one individual, who was seemingly a squatter that MacArthur had permitted to reside on his land.
Significant progress occurred during the 1960s. In 1970, the city’s population neared 7,000 individuals. MacArthur acquired an 80-year-old banyan tree situated in the neighboring Lake Park to highlight his new development. The tree was slated for removal to make way for the expansion of a dentist’s office. The cost of moving it was $30,000, and it required 1,008 hours of effort. The relocation of another banyan tree took place the subsequent year.
During the process of relocating the initial banyan tree across the Florida East Coast Railway, the immense tree moved and caused the Western Union telephone and telegraph lines, which were situated alongside the railroad, to become disconnected. This resulted in the disruption of communication between Miami, located 78 miles (126 km) to the south, and the rest of the world until the necessary repairs could be made.
The trees continue to exist at the heart of MacArthur Boulevard, near Northlake Boulevard, and are prominently displayed on the municipal emblem. In January 2007, Alexandre Renoir, the descendant of the renowned impressionist painter Pierre-Auguste Renoir, gifted the city with a painting showcasing the Gardens’ banyan tree. The artwork is presently shown at the city hall located on North Military Trail.
The urban expansion saw a gradual and consistent pace during the 1970s and 1980s, however, the population has yet to reach the anticipated 55,000 individuals envisioned by MacArthur. Nonetheless, the establishment of the expansive Gardens Mall, spanning an area of 1,300,000 square feet (120,000 m2), in 1988 marked the beginning of a fresh phase of growth.
Similarly, the sale of almost 5,000 acres (20 km2) of land in the city by the MacArthur Foundation in 1999 also contributed to this expansion. The rapid development of this site resulted in significant urban growth. In 1989, the city implemented an Art in Public Places legislation and has since acquired a diverse assortment of artworks.