SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. —
The historic Rosenwald School site in East Altamonte is being transformed into a community park and center, and construction is underway.
The Rosenwald School, built in 1931, was part of a national effort to expand educational access for Black children during segregation.
“There are many, many Rosenwald schools. I want to say in the early 1900s,” said Rick Durr, director of Seminole County Parks and Recreation. “The school itself on that site burned down.”
After the school closed in 2011, the community pushed for the property to serve a new purpose.
Seminole County acquired the 12-acre site in 2019 and has since opened a park with walkways and pavilions.
“It will be something that the community is looking forward to,” said East Altamonte resident Malesah Thornton.
An extension to Lake Mobile is currently under construction.
“That includes a fishing pier that’s going in, the walkways that are being extended, and some stormwater improvements, and a canoe-kayak launch right on the lake,” Durr said.
The next major addition will be a community center designed to honor the site’s history.
“We were able to use a lot of… the imagery of the original Rosenwald Schools – brick facades, tall windows, high ceilings, very airy, and it looks very symmetrical or classic-looking design,” Durr said.
“It will be a great thing, great idea. Something good for the community,” Thornton said.
The county is now seeking input from the community to name the park.
“We want to be able to take that to the Board of County Commissioners and officially give this park a name, but we want it to really come from the community,” Durr said.
The groundbreaking for the new community center is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on Oct. 29.
The entire project, estimated to cost $4 million, is expected to be completed by 2027.