Ackerman Island facts for kids
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Arkansas River |
| Administration | |
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United States
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| State | Kansas |
| City | Wichita |
Ackerman Island was once a sandbar island located in the Arkansas River in downtown Wichita, Kansas, United States. It was just north of the Douglas Street bridge.
Contents
History of Ackerman Island
How the Island Formed
This sandbar island began to appear around the 1870s. People believed it formed because the water level in the Arkansas River became lower.
Wonderland Park
In 1890, a local businessman named Joseph Ackerman bought the island. Later, in 1905, he sold it. After that, a fun place called Wonderland Park (also known as Wonderland Amusement Park) was built there. It was open for visitors until 1918.
Island Park Baseball Stadium
A baseball stadium called Island Park was built on the island in 1912. Baseball games were played at this stadium from 1912 until 1933, when it was taken down.
In 1925, a special baseball game happened at this stadium. A team from the Ku Klux Klan played against an all-black team called the Wichita Monrovians. The Monrovians won the game 10–8. The money raised from this game was given to charity.
The Island's Removal
By the early 1930s, there were worries about flooding. Because of this, the Works Progress Administration (a government program that created jobs) organized the removal of the sandbar. The eastern part of the island was used to fill in the western channel of the river. The eastern channel was made wider and became the river we see today. This meant that Ackerman Island became part of the current western bank of the Arkansas River.
In 1934, a new baseball stadium, Lawrence Stadium, was built a few blocks south. It replaced the old stadium that used to be on the island.
