J. P. Small Memorial Stadium, baseball park in Durkeeville, Jacksonville, Florida, US
J. P. Small Memorial Stadium is a baseball park in Jacksonville's Durkeeville neighborhood, rebuilt in 1936 after a fire destroyed the 1912 original. Its entrance on Myrtle Avenue has a red brick wall with two square brick columns supporting a green metal archway; raised white letters on the beam read "J P SMALL PAR". The field's modern boundaries are 8th Street West, Wilcox Street, 7th Street West and Myrtle Avenue North.
Joseph H. Durkee's land became Barrs Field in 1912, built for the Jacksonville Baseball Association. The Philadelphia Athletics held spring training there from 1914 to 1918, followed by the Pirates, Yankees and Dodgers. A 1936 fire destroyed the grandstand; the city rebuilt it in 1936–37 with a section for African-American patrons. In 1946 the recreation board barred a scheduled Giants–Royals game because Jackie Robinson and John Wright were to play.
The stadium has served as a gathering place for Jacksonville's baseball community for more than a century. Local schools and amateur teams still use the field regularly, keeping the tradition of neighborhood sports alive.
The venue is accessible and family-friendly with straightforward entry to the bleachers and field area. Arrive early on game days since parking is limited around the neighborhood, and nearby streets fill with spectators and vendors.
In 1946 the Jacksonville Playground and Recreation Board barred a scheduled Giants–Royals game at Durkee Field because it would have paired white and Black players; Montreal refused to leave Jackie Robinson and John Wright behind, and the game was cancelled. The park was listed on the National Register in July 2013 as the Joseph E. Durkee Athletic Field.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 94,194 contributors worldwide.