Editing Plantation, Florida (section)

=== Recent history (1980–present) ===
By 1980, Plantation's population had reached 48,653.<ref name=":1" /> This year is when the city was first designated as a 'Tree City' by the [[Arbor Day Foundation]].<ref name=":8" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.arborday.org/programs/treecityusa/treecities.cfm?chosenstate=Florida|title=Tree Cities|website=www.arborday.org|access-date=2018-10-01}}</ref> The Plantation Library was renamed to the Helen B. Hoffman Plantation Library in the following year.<ref name=":2" />

In 1983, the city opened Plantation Central Park: a 77-acre recreation complex, including an Olympic swimming pool, gym, and spaces for softball, football, soccer, tennis, and basketball.<ref name=":8" /> The same year, the former Plantation Chamber of Commerce (a 1,000-square-foot office building) was moved over one mile by truck to a new location. The intent was for the building to be used as a museum building by the Plantation Historical Society; however, it was vandalized and fell from its foundation, requiring demolition as a result.<ref name=":8" /> Instead, an alternative, Plantation Historical Museum (founded by Genevieve Veltri) is dedicated in June 1985.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":8" />

The city's landscape department established the Plantation Landscaping Award for Nurturing our Town (PLANT) awards in 1984, developed as part of the [[Arbor Day Foundation#Tree City USA|Tree City USA]] program to reward outstanding landscaping and maintenance.<ref name=":8" /> The same year also saw the first opening of the Plantation Heritage Park to the public.<ref name=":8" />

In 1988, 10 years after the opening of the Broward Mall, two new shopping malls were opened in the city: The Fountains Shopping Mall (450,000 square feet at a cost of $60 million) and the Fashion Mall at Plantation (660,000 square feet, featuring Macy's and Lord & Taylor as its anchor stores).<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1988-03-07/business/8801140945_1_shopping-center-fashion-mall-smaller-shops|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180926014502/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1988-03-07/business/8801140945_1_shopping-center-fashion-mall-smaller-shops|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 26, 2018|title=Analysts Hailing Burst of Stores in Plantation|last=Rubinkowski|first=Leslie|date=1988-03-07|work=SunSentinel|access-date=2018-09-25|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":8" />

The population reached 66,116 by 1990.<ref name=":1" /> The following year, Plantation's PLANT awards recognized [[Marjory Stoneman Douglas]] (then 100 years of age) as the "First Lady of Conservation" for her efforts to preserve the [[Everglades]].<ref name=":8" />

The insurance company Kemper National Services first opened operations in Plantation in 1993, and in the following year, announced plans to double its office space in the city and hire up to 800 additional employees. At the time, the city's largest employers were American Express, followed by Motorola.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1994-09-15/business/9409140457_1_medical-care-president-david-patterson-employees|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181012053911/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1994-09-15/business/9409140457_1_medical-care-president-david-patterson-employees|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 12, 2018|title=Kemper Will Add 800 Jobs|last=Roth|first=Patti|date=1994-09-15|work=SunSentinel|access-date=2018-10-11|language=en}}</ref>

During the 100th anniversary of the modern [[Olympic Games]] in 1996, the relay run of the [[Olympic flame|Olympic Flame]] passed through Plantation city center.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1996-07-05/news/9607050025_1_olympic-torch-seaplane-torch-works|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180926014600/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1996-07-05/news/9607050025_1_olympic-torch-seaplane-torch-works|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 26, 2018|title=Seaplane Carries Torch To S. Florida|last=Lorente|first=Rafael|date=1996-07-05|work=SunSentinel|access-date=2018-09-25|language=en}}</ref> In September of this year, a fire at the [[Plantation Towne Mall]] became the city's largest fire to date, impacting 56,000 square feet of the mall.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fireengineering.com/articles/print/volume-150/issue-4/features/plantation-florida-towne-mall-fire.html|title=Plantation, Florida, Towne Mall Fire|last=Casey|first=David|date=1997-04-01|website=Fire Engineering|access-date=2018-10-01}}</ref><ref name=":8" /> Following the fire, the area was re-built as Plantation Towne Square, including a new [[Publix]] as its anchor store.<ref name=":8" />

The year 2000 census established the city population at 82,934, spanning 15 distinct ethnic groups.<ref name=":16">{{Cite web|url=https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/00_SF1/DP1/1600000US1257425|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213082948/https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/00_SF1/DP1/1600000US1257425|url-status=dead|archive-date=2020-02-13|title=American FactFinder - Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Plantation city, Florida|website=United States Census Bureau|language=en|access-date=2018-10-11}}</ref> New city developments around this time included the {{convert|11500|sqft|m2|-1|adj=on}} Volunteer Park Community Center (1999), the Park East Multicultural Garden (2001), the Community Bus Service (2001), Jim Ward {{convert|16000|sqft|m2|-2|abbr=on}} Community Center (2002), Jack Carter Harmony Park (2002), Happy Tails Dog Park (2002), the Plantation Equestrian Center (2005), and the Plantation Preserve Golf Course and Club (2006).<ref name=":8" />

Plantation celebrated its 50-year [[Golden jubilee|golden anniversary]] in 2003, with a one-week celebration and updating of the city's time capsule.<ref name=":8" />

[[Hurricane Wilma]] hit Plantation on Monday, October 24, 2005, causing significant damage and power outages.<ref name=":8" /> The resulting damage led to the subsequent closure of the Fashion Mall in 2006.<ref name="Macys">{{cite news|url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/article-1G1-148667452/fashion-mall-macy-remain.html|title=Fashion Mall Macy's will remain closed: There will be no grand reopening of the Macy's at Fashion Mall in Plantation.|last=Walker|first=Elaine|date=26 July 2006|access-date=October 21, 2009|newspaper=The Miami Herald}}</ref>

In 2007, the Broward Mall was acquired by the [[Westfield Group]], received a multimillion-dollar renovation, and was renamed to [[Westfield Broward]].<ref name=":8" />

The city was first named one as of the nation's "100 Best Communities for Young People" by [[America's Promise Alliance]] in 2008.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.americaspromise.org/2008-competition-winners|title=2008 Competition Winners|website=America's Promise|language=en|access-date=2018-09-25}}</ref> It has won this award on other subsequent years, including 2010<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.americaspromise.org/2010-competition-winners|title=2010 Competition Winners|website=America's Promise|language=en|access-date=2018-09-25}}</ref> and 2011.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.americaspromise.org/2011-competition-winners|title=2011 Competition Winners|website=America's Promise|language=en|access-date=2018-09-25}}</ref>

The 2010 census established the city's population at 84,955 people.<ref name=":14">{{Cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|title=U.S. Census website|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|language=en|access-date=2019-01-28}}</ref> During this year, the vacant former Fashion Mall was planned for auction, but the auction was cancelled after the property owner paid a court judgement.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/stories/2010/04/19/focus1.html|title=Plantation's Fashion Mall set for auction|last=Bandell|first=Brian|date=April 19, 2010|work=Florida Business Journal|access-date=January 13, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/stories/2010/05/03/story7.html|title=Judgment paid, Fashion Mall auction canceled|last=Bandell|first=Brian|date=May 3, 2010}}</ref>

In 2011, Diane Veltri Bendekovic, daughter of previous long-running mayor Frank Veltri, was elected as mayor of the city.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.browardbeat.com/political-musical-chairs-in-plantation-bendekovic-jacobs-jump-in/|title=Political Musical Chairs In Plantation: Bendekovic, Jacobs Jump In - BrowardBeat.com {{!}} Politics, News & Views by Buddy Nevins|website=www.browardbeat.com|access-date=2018-09-25}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sfl-diane-veltri-bendekovic-20150208-story.html|title=Diane Veltri Bendekovic|work=Sun Sentinel|access-date=2018-09-25|language=en-US}}</ref>

The city's 60th anniversary in 2013 saw the publication of a new book dedicated to its history: ''Images of America: Plantation''.<ref name=":8" />

The developers of the previously closed Fashion Mall filed for bankruptcy in October 2014. The property was then sold in a bankruptcy auction in April 2015 for $37.7 million.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.law.com/dailybusinessreview/2018/09/11/settlement-reached-in-litigation-over-controversial-fashion-mall-project-in-broward/|title=Settlement Reached in Litigation Over Controversial Fashion Mall Project in Broward {{!}} Daily Business Review|last=Schlein|first=Zach|work=Daily Business Review|access-date=2018-10-11}}</ref> Demolition of the former Fashion Mall then began in 2016 (leaving the existing hotel, office and parking areas), to make way for [[Plantation Walk]] (previously known as 321 North<ref name=":0" />): a $350 million complex including 700 apartments, 200,000 square feet of retail and restaurants, and remodeled versions of the existing 160,000-square-foot office tower and [[Sheraton Hotels and Resorts|Sheraton hotel]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/87300567-132.html|title=Demolition of Plantation Fashion Mall begins|last=Sun-Sentinel|first=South Florida|work=Sun-Sentinel.com|access-date=2018-09-25|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/fl-bz-plantation-walk-development-20171116-story.html|title=The Fashion Mall is no more: Workers wrap up demolition|last=Huriash|first=Lisa J.|work=Sun-Sentinel.com|access-date=2018-09-25|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/broward/plantation/fl-sb-plantation-fashion-mall-20170322-story.html|title=Fashion Mall gets new name: 'Plantation Walk'|last=Huriash|first=Lisa J.|website=Sun-sentinel.com|access-date=20 May 2018}}</ref> In September 2018, a settlement was reached, dismissing legal conflicts between the area's bankruptcy trustee and other parties previously involved in the redevelopment. The development was targeting completion in 2021.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://therealdeal.com/miami/2017/10/10/malpractice-suit-involving-plantation-fashion-mall-dismissed/|title=Malpractice suit involving Plantation Fashion Mall dismissed|date=2017-10-10|work=The Real Deal Miami|access-date=2018-10-11|language=en-US}}</ref>

The American Express office in Plantation closed in 2017 when the company moved to a facility in neighboring Sunrise, Florida.<ref name=":22">{{Cite web|url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/fl-american-express-regional-hub-sunrise-20170127-story.html|title=American Express opens regional headquarters in Sunrise|last=Pounds|first=Marcia Heroux|website=Sun Sentinel|language=en-US|access-date=2019-02-04}}</ref> In response to the move, committee review began on 'Plantation Midtown': a new {{convert|25|acre|km2|adj=on|abbr=}} [[mixed-use development]], encompassing the site of the former American Express office.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/news/2017/03/10/former-american-express-office-in-broward-could-be.html|title=Former American Express office in Broward could be redeveloped as mixed use|website=www.bizjournals.com|access-date=2019-02-04}}</ref>

On July 6, 2019, 23 people were injured, two seriously, by a gas explosion at the Market on University shopping plaza on South University Drive, which caused extensive damage to it and nearby buildings.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-48894648|title=Plantation explosion: Injuries reported at Florida shopping complex|date=6 July 2019|access-date=6 July 2019|work=BBC News}}</ref> The explosion occurred due to People's Gas, a division of [[TECO Energy]], failing to close and lock a gas line after a customer request dating back to December 2018, in violation of Federal and Florida law.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gas leak suspected in explosion that rocked South Florida shopping center, injuring 23 |url=https://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/gas-leak-suspected-in-explosion-that-rocked-south-florida-shopping-center-injuring-23-20190708/ |access-date=2023-07-11 |website=Tampa Bay Times |language=en}}</ref>

In June 2020, following the [[George Floyd protests]] some residents called for the city, along with certain local schools whose names include the word "plantation", to be renamed due to the connotation of the word "plantation" with [[Slavery in the United States|slavery in the American South]]. The city's name has no direct links to slavery and other residents expressed opposition to renaming.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/11/us/plantation-fl-rhode-island.html|title='Not a Welcoming Name': Calls to Drop 'Plantation' Gain Steam Nationwide|date=11 July 2020|access-date=27 August 2021|work=The New York Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/article243566402.html|title=Why some Floridians want to rename Broward County, Plantation and Lee County|date=19 June 2020|access-date=27 August 2021|work=The Miami Herald}}</ref>

In 2021, Westfield Mall returned to its previous name of Broward Mall following the fall of the [[Westfield Group]].