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Parks advisory board backs nomination of Municipal Stadium at Hobbs Park to National Register
Summary
The Lawrence Parks and Recreation Advisory Board voted to recommend that the City Commission accept a nomination to list Municipal Stadium at Hobbs Park on the National Register of Historic Places, advancing a preservation effort backed by neighborhood groups and local sports leagues.
The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board voted to recommend that the City Commission receive a nomination to list Municipal Stadium at Hobbs Park on the National Register of Historic Places.
The recommendation, made after a presentation from local preservation partners, would allow the stadium to pursue federal and state historic rehabilitation tax credits and grants to support restoration. Advocates said the listing would help preserve a community landmark used today by neighborhood leagues and historically tied to Negro Leagues teams.
Andrew Stockman, curator of exhibitions at the Watkins Museum, told the board the Municipal Stadium in Hobbs Park and the Murphy Braumelstich House are the focus of the Hobbs Park Legacy Project and that the group is seeking both a National Register nomination for the stadium and a Kansas Register nomination for the house. “We are respectfully requesting your recommendation to the city commission so that they are able to approve the nomination and move this process forward for municipal stadium to the National Register of Historic Places,” Stockman said.
Stockman said the application to complete the National Register nomination would cost approximately $15,000 and that the project timeline for the nomination is about 15 months. He said listing could make the stadium eligible for historic rehabilitation tax credits and grant funding and that a later phase of work could include a historic-structures report to assess concrete seating and other original features.
Jackie Becker, an East Lawrence resident and a longtime Kaw Valley Kickball League player, described current community use: “We have what’s called Game of the Week on Sundays at Hobbs Park that brings out about 500 people,” Becker said, noting league-run concessions and volunteer cleanup after events.
Stockman listed organizations that have participated with the Legacy Project, including City of Lawrence staff, the East Lawrence Neighborhood Association, the Lawrence Preservation Alliance, the Kaw Valley Kickball League and the Watkins Museum of History. He reported letters of support from the East Lawrence Neighborhood Association and the Kaw Valley Kickball League and said several local groups have committed partial funding toward the $15,000 application cost.
After brief board discussion and no public opposition, Board Member Taylor moved to forward the group’s request to the City Commission; another board member seconded the motion and the board voted in favor.
If the City Commission accepts the nomination packet, project organizers would proceed with the formal submission to the National Park Service, then pursue rehabilitation funding and additional studies to inform any restoration work.
Details the board cited as part of the nomination include the stadium’s use by the Kansas City Monarchs in 1949 (managed that season by Buck O’Neil) and other barnstorming teams, longtime American Legion play and longstanding neighborhood use. Stockman said research sources include local newspaper archives and prior local-register work confirming eligibility.
Supporters at the meeting requested the board’s recommendation be forwarded to the Commission so city staff and the Legacy Project can proceed with the nomination work and grant/tax-credit planning.
