Carson Park (Eau Claire, Wisconsin)

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Carson Park is a park in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. The park is located on a 134-acre peninsula created by an oxbow lake, Half Moon Lake, created as part of the former course of the Chippewa River. The park, opened in 1915, was named in honor of the lumber baron, William Carson, whose estate donated the land to the city in 1914.

Eau Claire Cavaliers logo

Carson Park is home to a baseball stadium where the former Eau Claire Bears, then a member of the Northern League once played. Outside its entrance stands a statue honoring Baseball Hall of Fame player Hank Aaron, who played here early in his career. Today, the stadium is home to the amateur team the Eau Claire Cavaliers, and since the summer of 2005, the Eau Claire Express baseball team, a member of the Northwoods League, has also played its games at the stadium at Carson Park. The Chippewa Valley Predators[1], a member of the Great Plains Football League[2], plays their home games at the football stadium at Carson Park.

In addition to the stadium, the Chippewa Valley Museum, and the Paul Bunyan Logging Camp, which celebrates the town's lumbering history, are located here. The park also features a number of nature trails and offers other recreational activities. Half Moon Lake is the original home of the Eau Claire Ski Sprites, a water skiing show team.

From Memorial Day through Labor Day, the Chippewa Valley Railroad Association operates a one-half mile rail-car excursion in the park.