431. Pensacola's City Parks 1911

Updated: Mar 22, 2022

As the city of Pensacola began growing into a competitive Florida community, they began looking at expanding their city parks to make their neighborhoods more inviting. In their larger parks, such as Chipley Square (now called Ferdinand Plaza), they went so far as to hire a permanent manager to supervise its beautification. There was even a newspaper article of January 9, 1908 demanding water be supplied to all the local parks as soon as possible.

But their obsession with their parks had more to do with their lifestyle in 1911 than just beautification. Remember, there was no air conditioning in those days. If you drive through North and East Hill, you will notice old houses with large front porches, ten-foot ceilings with ceiling fans, small windows above the inside doors to allow hot air to escape, etc. Even country homes were built with "dog runs" that separated two halves of a house allowing for winds to blow through. Neighborhoods also had plentiful sidewalks for those evening walks in the cooler air. People sat on their porches and talked with each other as their neighbors strolled by. With all the windows open, people knew everybody else's business, both good and bad. After air conditioning arrived, windows went down, porches became obsolete, sidewalks disappeared, and families stayed inside and kept their business to themselves. Communication amongst people reached an all-time low as neighbors lost contact with each other.

But in the meantime, Pensacola kept expanding their parks to ensure that they were spaced throughout the neighborhoods to keep them within easy walking distance. In fact, there were so many that even Pensacolians that grew up here rarely know where they all are. And given Pensacola's rich Hispanic heritage, many of them were named in honor of our founding families. The following parks were those that existed as of 1911:

Alabama Square - located on West Gonzales south to W. DeSoto Street and between Barcleona and DeVilliers Streets.

Andalusia Square - located on East Cervantes Street south to East Gadsden Street and between 15th and 16th Avenues.

Bayview Park - located on 20th Avenue between East Mallory and East Brainard Streets and runs along Bayou Texar.

Catalonia Square - located on East Yonge south to East Bobe Street and from North 12th Avenue eastwards to North 13th Avenue.

Chipley Square - now known as Ferdinand Plaza and located from South Palafox eastwards to Jefferson Street and from East Government south to East Zarragossa Street.

Cordova Square - located on East Brainard south to East Gonzalez Streets and from 12th Avenue westwards to 11th Avenue.

Estramadura Square - located on East Hernandez southward to East Lakeview Streets and North 16th westward to North 15th Avenues.

Florida Square - in 1887 Florida Square was was located on North Palafox Street one block south of Cervantes Street and bordered by Gadsden southward to Jackson Street. However, it was renamed Lee Square in honor of General Robert E. Lee and the Confederate statute that was erected there two years later. The name Florida Square was then transferred to another located on East LaRua southward to East Belmont Streets and from North 12 Avenue eastwards to North 13th Avenue. That park has since been renamed Lions Park.

Georgia Square - located on East Gonzalez southward to East DeSoto Street and North Guillemard westward toward North Palafox Street.

Grenada Square - located off East Cervantes southward to East Gadsden Street and North 11th Avenue westward to North 10th Avenue.

Havana Square - located on East LaRua southward to East Belmont Street and North 17th Avenue westward to North 16th Avenue. The park is now named Miraflores Park.

Kupfrian's Park - no longer in existence. Was located at the end of North "J" Street where it ran into West Lloyd Street. It was bordered by such streets as today's Pace Street to the west, West Avery Street to the north, North "J" to the east and West Blount Street to the south. It was one of the landmarks of Pensacola and provided tremendous entertainment under its giant oak trees in the form of playgrounds, horse and car racing, picnics, beer halls, and dance pavilions.

La Mancha Square - located on East Fisher southward to East Cross Street and North 15th Avenue westward to North 14th Avenue.

Magnolia Bluff - created in the 1890's and was the terminus of the city's trolley line at Scenic and East Blount is today. It was located across from today's Apple Market on Scenic Highway, in the area known as East Pensacola Heights. A bath house that ran out into the bay on pilings was located there as well. There was also a train depot there with a platform. The North Atlantic Squadron also held summer maneuvers there at Camp Osceola at Magnolia Bluffs in 1888.

Malaga Square - located on East Moreno southward to East Blount Street and North 11th Avenue westward to North 10th Avenue.

Operto Square - located on East Moreno southward to East Blount Street and North 17th Avenue westward to North 16th Street.

Palmetto Beach Park - located on Bayshore Drive on Pensacola Bay. There is no park located there today and may have been encompassed by the Pensacola Country Club.

Robert E. Lee Square - see Florida Square above.

Seville Square - located on East Government south to East Main Street and South Alcaniz westward to South Adams Street. Location of a 1752 Spanish outpost until the British created it as a public square in 1764. Designated a public plaza by the Spanish in 1813, it is still a central gathering place for Pensacolians even today.

Toledo Square - located on East Brainard southward to East Gonzalez Street and North 18th Avenue westward to North 17th Street.

Zamora Square - located on East Yonge Street southward to East Bobe Street and North 19th Avenue westward to North 18th Avenue.

Perhaps if you and your family come across a sunny, pleasant Sunday afternoon, you might travel around and have a look see at some of these.