Carson Park is approximately 134 acres surrounded by Half Moon Lake on three sides. The lake forms a peninsula that creates the park and was named in honor of Williams E. Carson, one of the wealthiest lumbermen in the Chippewa Valley. Carson’s heirs donated the land to the City of Eau Claire posthumously in their father’s name in 1914. Remnants of the history of logging and the lumber industry remain today, visible with the prominent stands of pine trees throughout the park.

There are several unique facilities in the park that were built during the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in the 1930s. The baseball and football stadiums and the tennis courts’ construction started in 1935. Several baseball players who went on to have notable careers debuted at Carson Park Baseball Stadium. Among those players were Hank Aaron, Billy Bruton, Wes Covington, Joe Torre, Bob Uecker and Andy Pafko. Hank Aaron, the most recognized player, was honored in 1994 with a statue and plaza at the stadium.

MSA teamed with Rettler Corporation to prepare a Master Plan for Carson Park as a framework for improvements to update the facility over the next 20 years. Renovated or replacement shelters, added trail systems and innovative stormwater management are the highlights of future park improvements. The reorganization of the fields and courts around the historic Carson Park Baseball Stadium will create a more flexible and sustainable sports complex for area schools and professional sports organizations’ use.

The Master Plan for Carson Park received input from more than 2,000 city residents and will serve as a living guide for the future and preservation of this beloved 106-year-old community centerpiece.