Osceola Park recognized as historical

A round of applause, please, for Osceola Park, a charming neighborhood southwest of downtown Vero Beach.  In the fall, a state historical marker about Osceola Park will be erected on the corner of 19^th Street and 20^th Avenue.  Other Indian River County markers will go up at Historic Dodgertown and the Roseland community.  There are many state historical markets on the Treasure Coast, but this will be the first to recognize a neighborhood in Vero Beach.   Osceola Park contains an impressive number of early 20^th century houses.  One was the childhood home of Merrill Barber, who later served as mayor and for whom the bridge over the Indian River Lagoon is named.   The application for a marker ran 41 pages.  Being designated as historical will help Osceola Park preserve its character.  Before a house can be demolished in the district, a review board must give its approval.  Osceola Park already is on the National Register of Historic Places.  Osceola was the leader of the Seminole resistance against the United States.  He was captured and died of an illness.  Osceola was of mixed parentage, born in 1804 as Billy Powell.  I don’t think Billy Powell Park would have the same appeal as Osceola Park.  For 88.9 FM, this is Paul Janensch.