Deland's mural committee back in 1998 worked on bring images of Deland's past to the people who visit Painters Pond Park. The park is surrounded by a figure 8 walking path and 2 very large ponds. Also a series of Murals that run along a wall depicting Henry A. DeLand's dream everything from an pioneers, to people arriving on a steamboat to even the events that took place shaping Deland's history. The murals are painted with a clear coat every 2 years this protects them against the ultra violet rays and preserves them for many years to come. Before 1998 the area remained fenced off and neglected.

Taken from plaque in the park it reads like this which tells you a little more about the history: Painter's Park named for Deland Businessman Edward Okle Painter, was the site of Deland's first industrial complex and supported an early African-American neighborhood. Bounded on the north by railroad tracks the area was opened for development in 1887 by W.W. Parce, an early settlers. In 1889 Parce built a fertilizer factory northeast of this monument and later sold the business to Painter. In 1895 Painter constructed a print shop west of the monument. Residents fondly referred to the area as "Printery Park" Painter relied on the Sydney Weller Johnston to manage the printing company. By 1907 Johnston had acquired Painters share of the business.

In the early 1900s, Printery Park and adjacent areas contained African American neighborhoods named "Africa" and "Red City". Clusters of dwellings amid churches, general stories, and a meeting hall contributed to vibrant African-American communities. Wisconsin Avenue, initially named Park Avenue was divided by a small green space known as "Valley Park." Realigning the road to its present configuration eliminated the small park and the original winding course of the avenue. The relatively low elevation of Printer Park encouraged the City Of Deland to install a storm retention pond on the south side of Wisconsin Avenue in the 1920s. The pond led to the renaming of the area as Painter's pond.

The city acquired the Company property in 1970 to expand its storm water facilities. In 1998 the site was redeveloped to include a public green space. The bricks used to build this monument came from the original printing company building and were donated by the Johnston family, who continues to operate the E.O. Painter Printing Company in Deleon Springs Florida.

Other then that I do not have any further information although this is a really interestingly haunted park. It always has a gloomy feeling when I go for walks at night some of the murals look so real as if they are watching every move. There are ghost here they do follow you around perhaps that is why I enjoyed this investigation so much. It makes it alot easier for the ghost to follow you then for you to follow them. 

But this is not just a park full of ghost from Deland's past but its the type of place you bring your sweetheart sit down and relax. I became more or less interested in it the first day I arrived in Florida. Passing it a few times made me curious as to what all the murals were about its not often you see that in a park. Although I was teasing my kids telling them that there were alligators in those ponds which exist on each side of Wisconsin Avenue where the park is divided.

But with all the history such as tracks at one time running threw near by, stores, a factory, and little communities that surrounded the park it is no wonder why this place turned out to have so many different ghost. This place is a jewel and I am glad that I was able to bring others a story about it. 

But why is this park so haunted maybe the art has captured the essence of many souls? Or perhaps something occurred at one time here 200 years ago. I mean no buildings have stood here in  years however with it so close to the haunted Stetson, the fire that occurred here that broke out downtown Deland it would be no surprise that the park has some kind of supernatural activity. 

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AngelOfThyNight-Rick