City Of Hallandale Beach issued the following announcement on Feb 12.
#BlackHistoryMonth Did you know?
Did you know Oreste Blake (O.B.) Johnson was a visionary in the Northwest Quadrant whose vision and dedication impacted residents throughout the City and Broward County. Mr. Johnson was 30 years old when he moved to Hallandale Beach from Fort Lauderdale in 1945 and opened a service station and employment agency. A former teacher, Mr. Johnson volunteered as a recreation leader in the City. He quickly realized the children in the Northwest section of the City had no safe place to play. The children were playing along the FEC Railroad tracks and in an old tomato patch, which later became Mardi Gras Casino and Race Track.
Mr. Johnson approached City leaders and convinced them to dedicate land at Pembroke Road between NW 8th Avenue and NW 7th Avenue for a park, Dixie Park. The park included a swimming pool and became a gathering point for African Americans in South Florida. His love of children and recreation lead to his being hired as Recreation Director for Northwest Quadrant activities. His work there prompted the City to build the original Dixie Park and he became the cornerstone to building the City’s recreation program in Hallandale.
In recognition of Mr. Johnson’s dedication to the children and residents of the community, the City renamed Dixie Park to OB Johnson Park shortly after his death in 1995.
Original source can be found here.
Source: City Of Hallandale Beach
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