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[Narrator] Along the banks of the Mighty Mississippi sets an historic tribute to America's pastime that has become a cornerstone of the community -- Modern Woodmen Park, home to the Quad Cities River Bandits, a minor league affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. Originally named Municipal Stadium, the park opened its gates to the public on May 26, 1931.

[Dave Heller] It was one of the first, first public works projects commissioned by the federal government. Herbert Hoover is the only Iowan to ever become President of the United States.

And he decided as there was growing unemployment during the Great Depression, that he needed to do something to put people to work. And he really just dipped his toe in the public works pond. And Davenport Municipal Stadium, which is what this was called, was built in 1931. And the first baseball team to play there was the Davenport Blue Socks. 

[Narrator] Designed by local architects, Modern Woodmen Park features an art deco style common for the era, with a sturdy red brick facade and styling that captures both function and flair.

[Heller] You wouldn't build a building like this today because everything is brick, right? You could see behind me the brick. Everything is brick. And brick is expensive today. But back then, that's what they did. So, you have these wonderful curved arches that people come in and out of to get into the building. You have an intimacy in the ballpark that you don't find in more modern parks. You're right up close to the field and you're right up against the Mississippi River. You look out, you see the river, you see the bridge, you see Illinois across the Mississippi. There's no better view in baseball. It is the original deal. When so many ballparks, starting with Camden Yards were built in the 1990s and early 2000s and they wanted to look retro. We don't have to look retro. We are retro, right? We were the original.

We are what everybody else is copying. And I think that's pretty neat.

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[Narrator] Today's ballpark is a marvel, shaped by its riverside setting with breathtaking views from thousands of open-air seats. While it serves as a beautiful backdrop, the river has at times been an uninvited guest. After years of flooding, 2011 marked a turning point when the River Bandits installed an 8-foot-high flood wall between the park and the waters that once surged through the stands.

[Heller] We got the whole ballpark flood protected. So now when there's a flood, no water gets in, no water gets out. And that's a wonderful way of preserving the old and mixing it with the kind of modern amenities that you would really need. What good if you preserve the old if it gets flooded out and then nobody can use it?

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[Narrator] Preserving the old has allowed the park to be used in many unique and eccentric ways. It's the only ballpark in America where a seventh inning stretch includes a ride on a roller coaster or a Ferris wheel. From the roar of the crowd to the rush of a ride, family fun, classic baseball and amusement park magic collide at Modern Woodmen.

[Heller] We've created this little mini amusement park within the ballpark. We have the only Ferris wheel in all of baseball. 100 plus feet high. We have the only double decker carousel in all of baseball. In fact, the only double decker carousel in the entire state of Iowa is right here at Modern Woodmen Park. And you hear all these wonderful sounds of children's laughter at the ballpark. And that's what we really love.

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[Heller] Baseball here in the Quad Cities is the one thing that brings our whole community together. It's important that we be able to come together as a community, as in one place, and cheer for the same side. I think that's critical. I think that's a big part of what makes small town America great. To have these sort of major league amenities, big city amenities in a town and a community the size of the Quad Cities. And people agree. People love it. People vote with their feet and they show up here. It's part of what makes the Quad Cities so darn awesome. And it's everything that Norman Rockwell could have ever dreamed. It's perfect.

[Narrator] Modern Woodmen Park stands as a testament to Davenport's rich baseball heritage and continues to offer fans a unique and engaging experience that blends history and tradition with modern entertainment.

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