The Seminole City Park was originally the Meares family homestead. Maurice Meares, son of Albert and Adella Meares, lived in the 2 story home in this photo. This house was located just a few feet from where you are standing. Later Maurice’s son Vance lived here. The home was built in about 1902. The city of Seminole was formed 1970. In 1974 the city purchased the 10.8 acres for $200,000. The land then became Seminole City Park and the home of the Seminole City Hall. The 2.8 acre pond that you see in the photo is the same spring-feed pond that is here now. This house was located near where the band stand is now. The city tried to save the house and use it as welcome center but unfortunately it had been abandoned and vandalized to the point that it could not be saved.
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A $75,000.00 grant from the Florida Department of Natural Resources, now the Department of Environmental Protection, allowed for the construction of the first pier over part of the lake by 1976 Turtle, birds, alligators - and even an occasional peacock - congregate at the park.
The image above illustrates the undeveloped condition of the site in early 1974. Safety concerns let to the placement of a fence on this site once it became Seminole City Park in June of 1976.
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