Written by Annabelle Kisky

If you’ve ever spent time at Steve Cox Memorial Park, you’ve seen the wide open field of Mel Olson Stadium just across the lot from the Log Cabin. But did you know about the stadium’s long and storied history?

The original stadium in this spot, simply known as White Center Stadium, was built all the way back in 1940 and entirely made of wood. Much like today, residents of White Center would come by and pack the stands to have fun and watch some baseball. Unfortunately, tragedy struck; in 1977, the stadium was burnt down in a suspected case of arson. With the amount of time and money it would take to rebuild, it seemed like baseball might never come back to White Center. That was until Mel Olson, director of the White Center Chamber of Commerce and founder of the local little league team, stepped up to the plate.

Through his activism and fundraising efforts, King County was able to reopen a new stadium bearing Mel Olson’s name in 1979, just two years after the original burned down. The new building was a lot tougher, made from concrete and metal that could stand the test of time. Attendance numbers didn’t quite reach the numbers they had attained before – which is why just about 30 years later, King County Parks teamed up with Seattle Prep High School, Southwest Little League, the Puget Sound Senior Baseball League, and the White Center Community Development Association to remodel the facility in 2008.

These days, Mel Olson stadium is getting more traffic than ever before! There’s almost always something fun happening on the field. Come check out what’s already going on, or even make a reservation for yourself through the King County Parks website!