CASSELBERRY

Founded by World War I veteran Hibbard Casselberry, who in 1926 bought 3,000 acres to grow ferns, Casselberry emerged as a suburban residential community after World War II.

By the time it was incorporated in 1965, Casselberry encompassed a number of family-oriented subdivisions and a budding business district near the intersection of S.R. 436 and U.S. 17-92.

In the decades that followed, the city continued to grow-the population today stands at more than 22,000-but it became almost indistinguishable from surrounding unincorporated areas.

This quintessential bedroom community had been set to reclaim its distinctive identity with a 16-acre town center along U.S. 17-92 near City Hall. But the developer, Unicorp, recently terminated its contract to buy the property, citing a softening real estate market.

City officials say they're searching for another developer, but at this writing no announcements had been made.

Other improvements are continuing, however. A park just north of City Hall is being revamped and expanded to include an amphitheater on Lake Concord. The new and improved facility will host the city's biannual jazz fest as well as a chili cook-off, art shows and other special events.

The old Seminole Greyhound Park property off Seminola Boulevard is also being redeveloped as Legacy Park, which will contain single-family homes and townhomes as well as commercial and retail space. Centex Homes is the primary builder.

Casselberry has 15 parks, more than two dozen lakes and a municipal golf course within its city limits.

Adjacent to Casselberry is unincorporated Fern Park, which, as the name suggests, also traces its beginnings to the fern-growing industry. Like Casselberry, it developed into a bedroom community for Orlando starting in the 1950s.

The community, which has floundered somewhat in recent years, is in line for a boost thanks to improvements on U.S. 17-92, which will include wider sidewalks and decorative streetlights. And a long-abandoned Kmart plaza fronting the highway may soon be bought and redeveloped by the home-improvement chain Lowe's.