Carson Park (baseball stadium) facts for kids
| Location | 44° 48′ 26″ N, 91° 31′ 14″ W 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 |
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| Opened | May 4, 1937 |
| Construction cost | $60,000 USD |
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Carson Park Baseball Stadium
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 Location in Wisconsin
Location in the United States
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| Location | Carson Park Dr., Carson Park, Eau Claire, Wisconsin |
| 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 |
Carson Park is a famous baseball stadium in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. It is part of a larger park also called Carson Park. This stadium was built in 1936. It was a special project by the Works Progress Administration, which helped people find jobs during the Great Depression. Carson Park Stadium is so important that it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Today, many teams play at Carson Park. It is the home field for the Eau Claire Express of the Northwoods League. Amateur teams like the Eau Claire Cavaliers and Eau Claire Bears also play here. Even high school teams from Eau Claire Memorial, North, Regis, and Immanuel Lutheran use the stadium. The UW-Eau Claire club baseball team also calls it home.
The stadium is right next to the Carson Park football stadium. When it's football season, temporary seats from the baseball stadium are moved. They are placed along the left field wall. This way, fans can watch the football games.
Contents
Stadium History
How Carson Park Began
The land for Carson Park was given to the city in 1914. It was a gift from the family of William Carson. The park officially opened the next year. In 1935, work started on a big sports area. This included the baseball stadium, a football stadium, and tennis courts. These projects were part of the Works Progress Administration. This program helped many people get jobs during a tough time.
First Game and Famous Players
The very first baseball game at Carson Park was on May 4, 1937. It was a Northern League game. The Eau Claire Bears played against the Superior Blues. Later, the stadium became home to the Eau Claire Braves. This was a minor league baseball team. Many future Major League Baseball stars played for the Braves here. These included baseball legends like Henry Aaron, Joe Torre, and Bob Uecker.
Amateur Baseball and Renovations
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!
In 1994, a statue honoring Henry Aaron was placed in front of the stadium. Around 1997 and 1998, the stadium got some updates. New permanent seats were added behind home plate. Benches were put in the lower grandstand areas. The main entrance and outside areas were also improved.
Modern Updates
When the Eau Claire Express team joined the Northwoods League in 2005, the stadium got more upgrades. A special fan deck was built in the right field corner. A fun children's play area was added along the third-base line. An electronic message board was also put on the scoreboard. Before the 2007 season, the field itself was redone. It was leveled and new grass was laid down. In 2009, the press box was made bigger. New sections were added on the first and third-base sides. This made more room for reporters and staff.
