Whose land is it?
Because Austin was segregated, the Black community developed a park since Black people were not permitted to enjoy recreation in any of the other parts of the city–despite having established freedom colonies in other parts of the city. Therefore, Emancipation Park was the first park specifically designated for and created by Black people
Even under segregation, the Black community was not given autonomy of its own space. When the federal government decreed that all federal housing would be segregated, the City usurped the parkland, and built Rosewood Courts. The park in the segregated section was moved to an area next to the library, and housing was destroyed to create the park.
