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:''Note: The 'Admiral Mason Park''' is a 5.5-acre [[City of Pensacola]] Department park located in the [[Hawkshaw]] area along [[Pensacola Bay]], at the intersection of Parks [[9th Avenue]] and Recreation officially refers to [[Veterans Memorial ParkBayfront Parkway]] and the adjoining undevelloped land as "Admiral Mason Park". This article is about the historic ballpark which occupied much of the same land.''

'''<!-- will try to get permission [[Image:AdmiralMasonSenatorsProgram.jpg|thumb|right|Program illustration for the [[Pensacola Senators]] at Admiral Mason Park]] -->Admiral Mason Park''' was a 2,000-seat baseball park located at stadium situated on the waterfront site with the address 100 South [[9th Avenue]] on [[Pensacola Bay]]. The park is best remembered as the home of various Pensacola-based minor league baseball teams including the [[Pensacola Dons|Dons]] and [[Pensacola Senators|Senators]]. The ballpark Dons were owned by [[Fred Davis]] and started playing at the park in [[1957]].<ref>[http://www.alabama-florida-league.com/nafl_-_articles_Pensacola_Baseball.htm Deep South Class D Baseball]</ref> The team became the Senators, after major league affiliate the [[Wikipedia:Washington Senators|Washington Senators]], in [[1961]]. The park was named after a popular destination, but occasional odors from the nearby [[Main Street Wastewater Treatment Plant]] prompted the nickname "Stinko Stadium" from patrons.<ref>J. Earle Bowden. "It's spring and the feeling is baseball." ''Pensacola News Journal'', March 31, 2001.</ref> After the league folded in [[1962]] for refusing to accept black players, Admiral Mason Park languished for almost two decades before ultimately being demolished. In January [[1991]] the [[City of Pensacola]] ceded 5.5 acres of the former stadium's land to the [[Vietnam Veterans of Northwest Florida]] to use for the [[Wall South]], a half-scale replica of the [[Wikipedia:Vietnam Veterans Memorial|Vietnam Veterans Memorial]] in Washington, D.C. This site has since become known as [[Charles PVeterans Memorial Park]] and is now home to several other monuments.  ==Urban wetland==The low-lying area where Admiral MasonPark is located was denoted a swamp on old city [[maps]]and remains vulnerable to flooding during heavy rainstorms. It sits at the topographical foot of [[East Hill]] and serves as a drainage basin for approximately 18 acres of surrounding area. During the construction of the [[Aragon]] neighborhood, a Vice modern drainage system was engineered that alleviated flooding by depositing untreated stormwater directly into [[Pensacola Bay]].<ref>"Wetlands best use for Admiral Mason." ''Pensacola News Journal'', December 19, 2000.</ref> However, this runoff potentially contains lawn chemicals, automotive fluids and other toxins, presenting an environmental hazard to both the Bay and [[Project GreenShores]]. Future developments in the United States Navy area threaten to exacerbate the situation. In [[2000]] a debate erupted over whether to use the site as a dedicated soccer stadium or a stormwater retention pond. In his [[2001]] campaign for the [[Pensacola City Council|City Council]], [[Marty Donovan]] was a strong proponent of converting the park to a pond: "It used to be a freshwater swamp. It's an ideal place for a lake. It's inconceivable to me that a city that says it's concerned about stormwater pollution wouldn't be 110 percent behind this project."<ref>"Compromise near on downtown park." ''Pensacola News Journal'', June 19, 2001.</ref> However, faced with cost estimates of $450,000 and twowithout expected grants from the state DEP, the Council demurred.<ref>"Mason Park no longer a priority." ''Pensacola News Journal'', August 21, 2001.</ref> [[Image:AdmiralMasonPondProposal.jpg|thumb|right|Artist's rendering of the retention pond proposed by the [[Hawkshaw Village]] developers]]In [[2007]], the developers of the [[Hawkshaw Village]] project offered to construct a drainage pond at Admiral Mason Park that would provide stormwater retention and treatment to a 40-time acre area, including the project's site at [[9th Avenue|9th]] and [[Romana Street|Romana]] and the proposed [[Mayor technology park]] north of [[Aragon]]. The pond would include a water feature, similar to [[Wikipedia:Lake Ella|Lake Ella]] in Tallahassee. Construction is estimated to cost $690,000, and developers have pledged an additional $300,000 in landscaping and amenities to make the location more attractive.<ref>"Hawkshaw Village." ''PensacolaNews Journal'', October 21, 2007.</ref> However, the proposal will first need to be approved by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, which is not expected until March [[2008]], and then by the [[Pensacola City Council]].<ref>"Hawkshaw Village changes OK'd by development panel." ''Pensacola News Journal'', October 24, 2007.</ref> ==References=={{reflist}} [[Category:City of Pensacola parks]] [[Category:Recreation complexes]]