Alex Dambach, AICP

Planning Supervisor

The City of Oakland Park has a rich history dating back to the early 1920s and much of the early history has been recorded and presented in the book "Images of America: Oakland Park" published in 2009.  Staff of the Oakland Park Library has also worked with Susan Gillis, a professional historian and curator, to digitize the images and documents that were part of the Oakland Park Historical Society's collection which is housed at the Library and now also available online.

The Images of America book presents snapshots from the first phase of Oakland Park's history.  The City has engaged Susan Gillis to research and update the Oakland Park history with special focus on the history since the 1960s.  The new book will also focus on compiling a  history of the diversity of ethnic and racial communities that make up the City and how these groups have played a significant role in Oakland Park's story. 

Susan Gillis will coordinate the research and write the new book.  The book will take 2 years to complete.  The first year will focus on collecting the research and City and Library staff will assist in this process.  The second year will focus on the actual writing of the book and culminate in finding a publisher.