Urban Parks: James P. Small Park

Metro Jacksonville · April 01, 2009, 05:00:00 AM

Urban Parks: James P. Small Park

Located at 1701 Myrtle Avenue, the 4.82 acre James P. Small Park is a direct link between today's community and the Negro baseball leagues of the early 20th century.

Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/content/view/1037

copperfiend · April 01, 2009, 08:04:22 AM

What percentage of Jacksonville residents would you say even know the ballfield and it's history?

riverside_mail · April 01, 2009, 08:05:20 AM

Nice bit of history. Is the stadium used for anything in particular now?

fsujax · April 01, 2009, 08:13:57 AM

Yes, I have seen Stanton's baseball team practice there.

cracklow · April 01, 2009, 11:40:32 AM

Stanton baseball plays games there as well, I've seen my brother in law and cousin both play there.

Doctor_K · April 01, 2009, 02:26:49 PM

Copperfiend--

Probably something like < 2%, sadly.

Thanks for the photo tour, Ennis - great stuff as always.

thelakelander · April 01, 2009, 03:08:15 PM

This place is a real treasure to have in this city. Quite frankly, I'm suprised its still standing.

9a is my backyard · April 01, 2009, 05:42:18 PM

Quote from: thelakelander on April 01, 2009, 03:08:15 PM
Quite frankly, I'm suprised its still standing.

True. At least we've still got our T-Rex on Beach though, right? Am I right?

This city can be so frustrating.

thelakelander · April 01, 2009, 06:00:24 PM

Yes, I think the T-Rex is still there.

DONTBELIEVETHEHYPE · April 01, 2009, 08:32:31 PM

The ballpark and a brief narrative of the history of Negro League Baseball was outlined in a small, obscure section of the Jacksonville Suns program a few years ago. After reading it, I drove to the site, walked around, and took the place in. If you are a baseball fan, it's worth a trip to see the ballpark. As a fan of both history and baseball, and baseball history, I think it's a special place, and I am glad to see that it is in reasonably good condition.

I'm not sure, but I think Edward Waters College's baseball team plays their home games at this ballpark.

9a is my backyard · April 01, 2009, 11:42:41 PM

Quote from: thelakelander on April 01, 2009, 06:00:24 PM
Yes, I think the T-Rex is still there.

Sorry, I was being sarcastic earlier. Not only is it still there, it was saved and restored because enough people complained.

deathstar · April 02, 2009, 02:05:48 AM

I just got a little smarter reading about this field, and seeing the pictures. I'm speechless at the talent who has played on that field, and I hope to go there, close my eyes, and imagine what it must of been like. Thanks for the education lesson in Baseball history here!

Coolyfett · April 05, 2009, 08:16:19 PM

QuoteWhat percentage of Jacksonville residents would you say even know the ball field and it's history?

The 5 % that lives in Durkeeville and maybe Ock.

I got like 3 Redcaps tshirts and had a Cooperstown Throwback jersey with the # 38, the year the Redcaps played in Jax.

Do they still play games at this park?

stjr · April 05, 2009, 09:34:15 PM

Jacksonville has an outstanding history of accomplishments by our Black community that have made marks on the entire nation. Not only in baseball, football (Bob Hayes and many others), basketball (Artis Gilmore and others), but also in the arts and culture, politics, etc. We could have as a stand-alone attraction, a Black history museum, and it would be a national treasure. Although, my preference would be to have it incorporated as a substantial part of a Jacksonville HISTORY museum that highlights all our community accomplishments! Such a project would be supported by the entire community and would be a gem for us all. What are we waiting for?

stjr · April 05, 2009, 11:07:33 PM

Quote from: stjr on April 05, 2009, 09:34:15 PM
Jacksonville has an outstanding history of accomplishments by our Black community that have made marks on the entire nation. Not only in baseball, football (Bob Hayes and many others), basketball (Artis Gilmore and others), but also in the arts and culture, politics, etc. We could have as a stand-alone attraction, a Black history museum, and it would be a national treasure. Although, my preference would be to have it incorporated as a substantial part of a Jacksonville HISTORY museum that highlights all our community accomplishments! Such a project would be supported by the entire community and would be a gem for us all. What are we waiting for?

I just read the recent MJ article on the La Villa Museum of African American History in N.E. Florida. Wow. Looks great. I am a native and consider myself well informed of Jax goings-on, and I don't recall ever hearing about this place. My ignorance in making the previous post is proof positive they need to do more to promote it.

I didn't see a mention of the Negro leagues in the La Villa Museum article. Is this featured as well? Do they attempt to cover all of Jax African American history, or just pieces of it? Do they have a research and archives department?

Just think if we had one unified Jax History museum, the spotlight that we could shine on all of our community's history would be magnified many fold and the collaborative curating and research that could be done to weave a total Jax historical experience. These mostly unknown-to-the-greater-community museums are never going to pull in the crowds or have the abilities that a centralized facility would with enhanced resources and a more varied audience.