Baseball was played at other locations around Wichita in the earlier years. Island Park baseball stadium was built in 1912 on what was then Ackerman Island in the Arkansas River, north of the Douglas Street bridge.[7] Baseball was played there from 1912 to 1933, when the stadium was torn down so the island could be removed to widen the river into one channel.[8]
20th century
Charles S. Lawrence, former Wichita mayor (1929,1930,1933,1934) who died on September 20, 1934, after convincing the city to move the stadium and rebuild within the city limits at a location that was known as "Payne's Pasture" (owned by Charles Payne).[9] The construction of the stadium was a Works Progress Administration (WPA) project during the Great Depression. The new stadium was named Lawrence Stadium in honor of the former mayor.[10]
In 1942, Lawrence Stadium was used for American football with the Wichita Aero Commandos, who played eight games at the ballpark. In its football configuration, the stadium was capable of holding 12,500 spectators. The field was also resodded and bleachers were erected.[13][14]
In 1978, it was renamed to Lawrence-Dumont Stadium, adding the last name of Raymond "Hap" Dumont, who was a sports writer for The Wichita Eagle-Beacon, sports editor for the Hutchinson News, founder of the National Baseball Congress in 1935, and was instrumental in building Lawrence Stadium in Wichita.[15]
21st century
The stadium underwent renovations in 2001 which brought improvements to the stadium sound system, new infield turf, a new outfield fence with tables behind it, and fresh paint to the seating area.
The stadium was again renovated in 2011. It was one of the few stadiums in the world that features a natural grass outfield with an AstroTurf infield. This would change during the April 2011 renovation when the entire field (including the grass outfield) would be replaced with RamTurf. Other changes included all new lights, exterior cosmetic improvements, new infield turf, dugout expansion, and improvements to the concourse areas.
