Helena Smith has lived across from the empty lot on Southwest Eighth Street in Davie for nearly 12 years.
She was happy to spend part of her weekend recently helping transform the lot into a neighborhood park.
''I'd like to see this be a nice place,'' said Smith, who brought husband James and son Jamie, 7, to help.
The Smiths were part of the volunteer force that descended on the park, just east of Southwest 136th Avenue, on May 3 and 4 to plant hundreds of trees, shrubs and flowers.
The effort was organized by the Davie Area Land Trust, which set out to landscape the park as its first community project.
The land trust is a membership organization dedicated to preserving open space in Davie and surrounding communities.
''This is a perfect example of how the Land Trust can partner with the town, the county and the community at large to meet a common objective,'' said trust board member Judy Paul, the project coordinator.
According to Paul, the town of Davie purchased the park with money from Broward County's Safe Parks and Land Preservation Bond but had not budgeted for the park's development.
As a nonprofit group, the Land Trust was able to step in and apply for a $10,000 matching grant from the Broward Beautiful community grant program.
The bulk of that money went to landscape design, installation and the purchase of the 19 trees that now ring the site, which covers slightly less than three acres.
The trees went in the ground in April.
''Neighbors have been walking over to help because they have been seeing me water the trees,'' Paul said.
That was the type of community effort the Land Trust was hoping for when it came time to put in the hundreds of plants donated by local nurseries to create butterfly gardens and other green areas.
Sean Glickman, an area resident for 10 years, has been volunteering his time helping to water trees already in the ground.
He works for Complete Water Systems, which is owned by John Ladue, a member of the Land Trust.
With no permanent irrigation system in place yet at the fledgling park, Ladue and Glickman have been pumping water to refill a large portable water tank.
From there, they've been filling up buckets to water the new vegetation.
Glickman said he's happy to help because he knows in the long run the park will be a boon for the neighborhood, bounded by mobile homes and small single-family homes.
''Hopefully, it will give the kids a place to go and something to do and keep them out of trouble,'' he said.
Plans for the park include a basketball court, a tot lot, a pavilion, a picnic area and a walking path.
According to Paul, there is no firm date yet for when development will begin.
For now, she is looking for donations of more plants and mulch and for volunteers who can spare a few minutes during the day to help water.
To volunteer, call Judy Paul at 954-531-2097. For information, visit www.davie landtrust.org.
