Baker Skinner Park
History of Baker Skinner Park
The City of Jacksonville purchased the property in January 1994 from the descendants of local dairyman A. C. Skinner Sr. The family sold the land for $25,000 per acre, well below its $83,000-per-acre appraised value, in recognition of the time and resources the Skinner and Baker families had put toward developing Jacksonville’s parks. The park honors both A. C. Skinner and Dick Baker, former president of the Northeast Florida Builders Association and recipient of the association’s 1993 Leadership Award.
Since opening, the park has become an important recreational destination for the Southside community, offering quality athletic facilities while preserving green space for families and outdoor enthusiasts.
Location and Access
Recreation for All Ages
Baker Skinner Park accommodates both organized sports and casual outdoor activities:
- Four baseball fields
- Two T-ball fields
- Nature and jogging trail
- Children’s playground
- Picnic shelters
- Picnic tables and grills
- Concession stand
- Restrooms
- Security lighting
- Ample parking
Things to Do at Baker Skinner Park
Watch Youth Baseball. Baseball is one of the park’s biggest draws. Throughout the season, the fields host practices, tournaments, and league games that bring players and families together from across Jacksonville.
Walk the Nature Trail. A nature and jogging trail winds through shaded green space, a peaceful setting for walking, jogging, or just enjoying the outdoors. Early mornings and evenings are especially popular with residents avoiding the midday heat.
Let the Kids Enjoy the Playground. The playground offers a safe space for climbing, sliding, and imaginative play, with benches and picnic areas nearby for parents keeping watch.
Enjoy a Picnic. Covered picnic shelters and charcoal grills make the park a good spot for birthday parties, family reunions, and weekend cookouts, with spacious lawns for outdoor games.
Nearby Attractions Worth Exploring
The Avenues Mall. A short drive from Baker Skinner Park, this shopping center offers national retailers, restaurants, and specialty shops.
Alejandro Garces Camp Tomahawk Park. Nature lovers can explore wooded walking trails, launch a kayak on Goodby’s Creek, or enjoy a quiet picnic beneath mature oak trees.
Goodby’s Creek Boat Ramp. For those looking to get out on the water, this ramp provides access to Goodby’s Creek and the St. Johns River for boating, kayaking, fishing, and paddleboarding.
Historic Mandarin. A few miles south, Mandarin offers riverfront parks, local restaurants, boutique shops, and attractions like Walter Jones Historical Park and the Mandarin Museum.
IT Support for Local Businesses – Total Business Systems
Youth leagues, concession stands, and nearby small businesses around Baker Skinner Park all depend on reliable technology, from registration systems to point-of-sale and phone lines. Total Business Systems provides Managed IT Services, VOIP phone systems, and cybersecurity to businesses and organizations throughout Jacksonville’s Southside. As a trusted provider of Jacksonville IT Services, Total Business Systems tailors its solutions to businesses of every size in the area.
A Valuable Community Resource
For more than three decades, Baker Skinner Park has played an important role on Jacksonville’s Southside by providing quality recreational facilities for residents of all ages. Youth athletic programs continue to thrive here, while the walking trail and picnic areas offer year-round outdoor enjoyment, and its convenient location keeps it one of the area’s most frequently visited neighborhood parks.