Other than build great outdoor projects here is what we love most about Pembroke Pines. Here are five fun facts about Pembroke Pines:

1. Named for a British Parliament Member: Pembroke Pines takes its name from Sir Edward J. Reed, a 19th-century member of Britain's Parliament who once farmed land nearby along what became known as Pembroke Road — the pine trees growing there gave the city its full name.

2. Built on Dairy Farmland: Before it was one of Broward County's largest cities, the land here was the Waldrep Dairy Farm — today's Pembroke Lakes Mall sits on what was once open pasture.

3. A City Born From a Carport Vote: Pembroke Pines officially incorporated in 1960 after residents cast ballots in a garage-turned-polling-place, with 98% voting yes to become their own city.

4. A Storm Changed Everything: Hurricane Andrew's destruction in South Miami-Dade in 1992 sent thousands of displaced families north, and many chose Pembroke Pines — fueling a population boom that made it one of the fastest-growing cities in the country by 1999.

5. The Largest Charter System in the State: Facing a shortage of county-run classrooms, Pembroke Pines built its own municipal charter school system, which grew into the largest of its kind in Florida.