A new era for Palm Beach Atlantic University began April 4, 2008, between Belvedere Boulevard and Southern Boulevard as the PBA community joined in celebration with the West Palm Beach community for the groundbreaking ceremonies of the new PBA athletic campus at the former Hillcrest Property.

Ninty-six acres was the landing site for PBA and city officials including then-PBA President Dr. David W. Clark, PBA Board of Trustees Chairman John Greene and many other distinguished guests, including West Palm Beach Mayor Lois Frankel and many of the West Palm Beach city commissioners.

These distinguished guests joined PBA in celebrating the creation of a permanent home for Sailfish athletics as well as a place of recreation to the local community.

Master of ceremonies Pat Murphy of Channel 12 oversaw the day’s activities which included a greeting from Major League Baseball Hall-of-Famer Gary Carter, who is the chairman of PBA’s Blue Ribbon Committee that has overseen the strategic planning of the athletic campus since its inception.

Other activities included a “ballgame” theme for the groundbreaking ceremonies that allowed the guests on hand -- including PBA Sailfish Club members -- to participate in a variety of sports-related drills to celebrate the official groundbreaking of the facilities.

Individuals were able to hit baseballs off of tees, kick soccer balls into goals, and practice their tennis serve on site while the family atmosphere featured a sno-cone stand, Cracker Jacks and hot dogs and a large Pepsi station.

The University purchased the parcel, located between I-95 and Parker Avenue just north of Southern Boulevard, for $3.1 million from Palm Beach County.

“This purchase is significant for the continued growth of our University,” said then-President Clark. “It is also gratifying that through meeting our students’ needs we will at the same time help invigorate the neighborhood.”