The Old Ortega Historic District contains a wide variety of residential architectural styles including Frame and Masonry Vernacular, Mission, Craftsman Bungalow, Mediterranean Revival, Colonial Revival, Minimal Traditional, Tudor Revival, and Prairie.

Originally known as Ponce de Leon Park, Bettes Park was named in honor of Charles Bettes, the neighborhood’s developer, in 1930. Bettes Park is the general location of the original civil war era plantation house.

Cortez Park is located just south of Ortega Village. It served as the “end of the line” or turnaround for the 1906 streetcar line extension through Riverside and Avondale, connecting Ortega with Downtown Jacksonville. Boy Scouts found it a popular ride to a good campsite and fisherman and crabbers enjoyed the day trips it afforded.

In 1923, Ortega Elementary School opened adjacent to Desoto Park and for many years, the park served as the school’s playground. In 1950 the Ortega Company donated the western portion of the park to the School Board for use by the school.

Originally named Ortega Park, Stockton Park is named for John N.C. Stockton, president of the Ortega Company.

A portion of the park is the result of submerged land being filled and bulkheaded in 1965.

Seminole Park is named after the Seminoles of Florida. It is one of several sites and streets in Ortega named after Native American tribes. Others include Iroquois, Apache, Arapahoe, Cherokee and Manitou Avenues.

Article by Ennis Davis, AICP. Contact Ennis at edavis@moderncities.com