The original facility was constructed in 1911–1912 on a patch of land owned by Joseph H. Durkee, a former Union officer during the American Civil War who had settled in Jacksonville, where he became a prominent businessman and politician.

[2] In addition to local teams, Major League clubs including the New York Giants and the Brooklyn Dodgers held their spring training at the field.

In 1926, the city government decided to purchase Barrs Field from Durkee in hopes of bringing back professional baseball.

In that year, the Giants were scheduled to play against a Montreal Royals team that included Jackie Robinson and John Wright, who were in the process of integrating organized baseball.

[4] The Royals, with support from the Dodgers, refused to leave Robinson and Wright at Montreal's training camp in Daytona Beach, and they canceled the game.

Renovations included structural repairs, a new roof, press box and dugouts, paving the parking lot, a new playscape, and lighted fields.

In May 2003 the Jacksonville City Government pushed forward legislation that would give J. P. Small Ballpark a permanent historical marker.

In July 2013, the park was added to the National Register of Historic Places under the name Joseph E. Durkee Athletic Field.