The city of Jacksonville is reviewing plans for the municipal government’s proposed baseball museum at the historic J.P. Small Park in Durkeeville.
Civil plans show a 4,205-square-foot, one-story building in the northwest corner of the park, beyond the left field fence. According to notes in the plans, the facility would include a gallery space with a kitchenette and a storage/mechanical area.
The main entrance would be on the west side of the building, which would be at Myrtle Avenue North and West Eighth Street. Plans for the entrance show a stained-concrete walkway, benches and landscaping surrounding an oak tree that would be retained for the museum.
The park’s address is 1701 Myrtle Ave. N.
It reopened in January 2025 after a $2 million makeover that included installation of artificial turf and professional-grade lighting, updated dugouts and new fencing. At that time, the city said further improvements would include construction of the museum and a baseball-themed playground beyond the center field fence.
The city estimated the cost of that phase of the project at $5 million to $6 million. Phil Perry, the city's chief communications officer, said in a May 8 email that the expected the museum to cost about $3 million.
Hanson Professional Services Inc. prepared the civil plans for the city Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department.
The park dates to 1912 and was purchased by the city in 1936. Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig played at the stadium, originally known as Barrs Field and then Durkee Field, when it was a spring training site in the early 1900s.
Baseball Hall of Famer Henry Aaron played there as a minor leaguer in 1953, joining Black teammates Horace Garner and Felix Mantilla in integrating the South Atlantic League. Hall of Fame pitcher Satchel Paige was among notable stars who played at the park.
The stadium also was home to the Jacksonville Red Caps of the Negro Leagues, the organization for Black players that thrived before the racial integration of Major League Baseball.
The ballpark is now the home field for the Edward Waters University and Stanton College Preparatory School baseball teams. Its namesake was Stanton’s baseball coach from 1934 to 1969.