Riverside Park Community Building (former) – Iola KS

City:
Iola, KS

Site Type:
Armories, Civic Facilities, Military and Public Safety, Community Centers

New Deal Agencies:
Works Progress Administration (WPA), Work Relief Programs

Site Survival:
Extant

Description

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) constructed the gorgeous (original) Community Building at Riverside Park in Iola, Kansas. It is now known as the Iola Recreation Center & Little Theatre.

GetRuralKansas.com: “The community building was built by the WPA program for the national guard armory. By 1941, it was changed to a basketball court and a small theater which was used by the school system for many years, as well as clubs, organizations and citizens of the community. After the school district built their own gymnasium, the community building is being used for indoor exercising, pick up basketball, and an area that’s available for many uses.”

Source notes

https://www.getruralkansas.org/Iola/143Explore/1447.shtml (accessed Aug. 6, 2023)

http://getruralkansas.com/Iola/143Explore/1391.shtml (accessed Aug. 6, 2023)

Site originally submitted by Evan Kalish on August 6, 2023.

Location Info


500 Park Ave.
Iola, KS 66749

Coordinates: 37.91660, -95.41506

Contribute to this Site

We welcome contributions of additional information on any New Deal site.

Submit More Information or Photographs for this New Deal Site

Join the Conversation

Please note:

  • We are not involved in the management of New Deal sites and have no information about visits, hours or rentals.
  • This page shows all the information we have for this site; if you have new information or photos to share, click the button above.

Your email address will not be published, shared, or sold.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Contribute to this Site

We welcome contributions of additional information on any New Deal project site.

Submit More Information or Photographs for this New Deal Site

Join the Conversation

Please note:

  • We are not involved in the management of New Deal sites and have no information about visits, hours or rentals.
  • This page shows all the information we have for this site; if you have new information or photos to share, click the button above.

Your email address will not be published, shared, or sold.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.