Carson Park (Eau Claire, Wisconsin) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Carson Park |
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| Location | Carson Park Dr., Carson Park, Eau Claire, Wisconsin united states |
Carson Park is a cool park in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, USA. It's built on a 134-acre piece of land that sticks out into Half Moon Lake. This lake used to be part of the Chippewa River. The park is a great spot for sports, with places for baseball, football, and softball. It's also home to the Chippewa Valley Museum.
Contents
Discover Carson Park's History
How Carson Park Began
The land for Carson Park was given to Eau Claire in 1914. It was a gift from the family of William Carson, a rich lumber businessman. The park was named in his honor. It officially opened its doors the very next year, in 1915.
Building the Sports Hub
In 1935, a big project started to build sports areas in the park. This included a baseball stadium, a football stadium, and tennis courts. This work was part of a government program called the Works Progress Administration (WPA). The football stadium hosted its first game in 1936. The baseball stadium opened for its first game in 1937.
A Historic Baseball Stadium
The baseball stadium at Carson Park is very special. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2003. This means it's recognized as an important historical site.
Carson Park Baseball Stadium
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| Location | One Carson Park Drive Eau Claire, Wisconsin 54701, USA |
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| Capacity | 3,800 |
| Field size | Left field: 320 ft Center field: 388 ft Right field: 312 ft |
| Surface | Natural grass |
| Construction | |
| Opened | May 4, 1937 |
| Construction cost | $60,000 USD |
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Carson Park Baseball Stadium
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| Area | 6 acres (2.4 ha) |
| Built | 1936 |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and Early 20th Century American Movements |
| NRHP reference No. | 03000698 |
| Added to NRHP | July 25, 2003 |
Who Plays at the Baseball Stadium?
The Carson Park baseball stadium is a busy place! Many local teams play here. These include high school teams like Memorial (Old Abes), North (Huskies), Regis (Ramblers), and Immanuel Lutheran (Lancers). The Eau Claire Express of the Northwoods League also call it home. You can also watch the Eau Claire Cavaliers and Eau Claire Bears amateur teams.
Early Days of Baseball
The first game at the stadium was on May 4, 1937. It was a Northern League game between the Eau Claire Bears and the Superior Blues. In 1954, the Bears changed their name to the Eau Claire Braves. This was because they were connected to the Milwaukee Braves, a big league team.
Baseball Legends Played Here
Many famous baseball players got their start at Carson Park. One of the most well-known is Hank Aaron. Other future Major League Baseball stars like Billy Bruton, Wes Covington, Joe Torre, and Bob Uecker also played here.
After the Braves
After the Braves left in the 1960s, the Eau Claire Cavaliers started playing in 1971. This amateur team became very successful. Under their manager, Harv Tomter, they won five national championships!
Stadium Upgrades and Tributes
In 1994, a statue honoring Baseball Hall of Famer Hank Aaron was put up outside the stadium. Around 1997-1998, the stadium got some updates. New seats were added, and the main areas were improved.
More renovations happened when the Eau Claire Express team arrived in 2005. A special fan deck was added in the right field. There's also a kids' area along the third-base line. The field itself was re-done in 2007. The press box was made bigger in 2009, and a new scoreboard was added in 2010.
A Unique Field Setup
The left field wall of the baseball stadium is right next to the football field. During football season, temporary seats from the baseball stadium are moved onto the left field. They face the football field, making it a cool shared space!
Carson Park Football Stadium
| Location | One Carson Park Drive Eau Claire, Wisconsin 54701 |
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| Coordinates | 44°48′32″N 91°31′12″W / 44.80889°N 91.52000°W |
| Capacity | 6,500 |
| Surface | Natural grass (1936–2003), FieldTurf (2004–present) |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1936 |
| Construction cost | $60,000 |
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Who Plays Football Here?
The football stadium at Carson Park is home to the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire Blugolds. It also hosts the high school football teams from Memorial, North, and Regis.
Stadium Changes Over Time
The UW–Eau Claire Blugold football team started playing here in 1937. In 1982, a tornado hit Eau Claire and damaged the press box. A new, bigger press box was built in its place. The stadium also got new grandstands and concession stands in the late 1990s.
New Playing Surface
Over the years, many teams used the football field. This caused the grass to wear out. In 2004, a new artificial surface called FieldTurf was installed. This helped keep the field in great shape. The turf was replaced again in 2015.
More Fun at Carson Park
Museums and History
Carson Park has two interesting museums. The Paul Bunyan Logging Camp Museum opened in 1934. It shows what logging life was like long ago. You can see seven real logging camp buildings there. The Chippewa Valley Museum opened in 1974. It tells the story of the local area. Inside, there's an old-fashioned ice cream parlor. Outside, you can visit the Sunnyview School, a one-room schoolhouse from 1882. There's also the Anderson Log House, a Norwegian log home built around 1866.
Outdoor Activities
The park also has nature trails for walking and exploring. Half Moon Lake is where the Eau Claire Ski Sprites started. They are a cool water skiing show team! The Eau Claire Horseshoe Club also calls the park home.
Train Rides!
From 1960 to 1996, a historic train called Soo Line 2719 was on display at Carson Park. Now, you can ride a miniature train called the Chippewa Valley Railroad. It's a one-half mile ride on a 16-inch wide track. It runs from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
Images for kids
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A Chippewa Valley Predators football game; the baseball field is visible in the background
