The one constant through all the years of Iola sports has been Riverside Park, from harness races in the early years of the 20th century, to track meets ball games and swimming competitions today. Riverside Park once looked nothing like it does today. Not even close. Longtime Iolan Donna Houser and Riverside Park aficionado gave this newcomer an overview of the park’s history and its significance. In fact, the stadium’s Mustang locker room is named after her late husband, Ray, a longtime football coach. The Iola High School class of 1987 was instrumental in its removation. “We moved to Iola 68 years ago,” said Houser. “I had a teaching job and he loved football and teaching history and that’s what he did… We were the smallest school in the league in ‘66. We played Coffeyville and Pittsburg and they were a lot bigger.” On Feb. 26, 1938, it was announced a levee would be built around Riverside Park. The stadium was constructed in 1939.
Source: The Iola Register
