East Hill, Pensacola

Lions Park was originally established under the name of Florida Square in the historic East Hill subdivision of Pensacola, Florida in 1909 at 12th Avenue and La Rua Street.

The name Florida Square was originally used for the park that is now known as Robert E. Lee Square and so the name was later reused for the 12th Avenue park location. The park’s name was later changed in 1946 to Lions Club Park. The park was named after The Pensacola Lions Club, a local branch of the Lions International Service Organization.

The Pensacola Lions Club was established in 1936 and met downtown at 114 W. Garden Street.  The park began hosting softball while still under the name of Florida Square in the early 1940s. The park was then renovated under the new name around April 1946. The renovation included the installation of an electronic scoreboard, new lights, and a public address system. The park was sponsored and run by a director of the Lions Club Park Committee and various members until the 1950s when the parks began receiving government funding from Parks and Recreation.  

The park boasts a concession stand for games, benches, slides, and swings and is currently used for community baseball, softball, and kickball games. The park is in the process of another renovation totaling $95,000 which will include a fence upgrade, new park lighting, and installment of turf and new irrigation and drainage systems.