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Related Space Page: Juneteenth
Rosewood Park is a public park in East Austin with swimming, a rec center, and more. The auditorium is named for World War II hero Doris "Dorie" Miller, a native of nearby Waco. He is said to have visited the park before leaving for the war. [1]
The park's origin was as "Emancipation Park" nearby. [2]
Quoting "The History of Rosewood Park," compiled by the Austin Parks Foundation: [1] "Prior to the creation of Rosewood Park, African Americans founded Emancipation Park, a nearby parcel purchased in 1905 by the Negro Park Association, for use in civic events such as the annual Juneteenth celebration. But in 1938 Emancipation Park had been seized by the City for the site of Rosewood Courts, a federally funded public housing project, and Rosewood became one of the only green spaces available to Black Austinites."
Research Notes
From "Preservation Austin": The city established the “Rosewood Avenue Park and Playground for the Colored” in East Austin in accordance with the plan. Conversely, it barred public services, including parks, to African Americans living other parts of Austin. [3]
Sources
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Reporting by Amanda Covo at Eastside Magazine, as well as Deborah Sengupta Stith and Michael Barnes at Austin 360. Additional historical information from the Austin Parks & Recreation Department and the Cultural Landscape Foundation. Live Link and Archived Link
- ↑ https://www.austinmonitor.com/stories/2017/04/planning-commission-initiates-historic-zoning-emancipation-park-site/
- ↑ https://www.preservationaustin.org/news/2021/2/3/rosewood-park-a-historic-icon-of-austins-east-side