Liberty Pond
Pond on the University of Florida campus in Gainesville, Florida
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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 | |
|---|---|
Liberty Pond overlooked by the Reitz Union sometime before the buildings's 2016 expansion | |
  Liberty Pond Location of Liberty Pond in Florida | |
| Location | Gainesville, Florida |
| Coordinates | 29.6458033°N 82.3471212°W |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Residence time | Year round |
| Surface elevation | 121 feet (37 m) |
| Settlements | Gainesville, Florida |
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]
