May 2021
the active age
Page 7
Stadium
with well-used stadiums. Even with modern cleaning and sanitizing, many From Page 1 parks retain a smell that goes with million Riverfront Stadium. And 7,507 baseball. Spilled beer, dropped hot dogs cheering fans got the public’s first good and crushed peanut shells somehow look at a modern field of dreams after a permeate seats or are absorbed into one-year delay caused by the pandemic. pores in the concrete. It’s eau de This fan’s view: Riverfront Stadium baseball that reminds many people is a collection of fan-pleasing amenities they really are in a ballpark. My first experience with a minor designed to make the ball game fun league stadium came in Pueblo, Colo., and easy to watch. in the 1940s. Pueblo was playing Compared with most stadiums, against Sioux City in a Western new and old, Riverfront is spacious. League game—a league that included Particularly in the cheaper seats, most Wichita. My memory of the game major league stands are designed to is hazy. But I vividly recall the midsqueeze as many bodies as possible game brawl between the teams that into the smallest possible space. broke up when Pueblo’s oversized Upper decks often are as steep as a catcher launched himself onto the mountainside. The crowds that always pile of bodies at home plate. Survivors seem to be on the move in ball parks returned to their dugouts. parade in front of many rows of seats, My first look at Lawrenceshutting off the view of many fans. Dumont came in 1949, 14 years Not so at Riverfront. The wide after it was built. Three friends and I seats and aisles and the fact that rode a late-night train from western the path to the concession stands Oklahoma to watch the Elk City, is behind most chairs makes it easy Okla., team lose to the Golden, Colo., to concentrate on the game. With Coors team in the NBC tournament. innovations that range from a room That was an era of overflow crowds at reserved for mothers feeding their the tournament. To me at the moment, babies to a Wichita flag mown into the diamond’s grass, the park contrasts it was a big-league experience. Our family’s greatest major sharply with the one it replaced, league moment came in 1976, the Lawrence-Dumont. last summer the game was played in If Wichita’s stadium lacks Municipal Stadium in Kansas City. anything, it’s the aroma that goes
Courtesy photo
Sunny skies and social distancing greeted the opening day crowd at Riverfront Stadium. That park had an entrance off the his way to the dugout to talk to them. parking lot that led into the left field That game set a high standard for corner. We were there to see Detroit, any that would follow. and the Tigers were taking batting But WSU’s game at Riverfront practice when we arrived. Watching featured something even that game from the sidelines, a foul ball soon didn’t, for nearly every play could be fell where our older son, then about considered some kind of stadium first. 14, could field it. Then our daughter, Paxton Wallace became the first batter a couple of years older, picked up to hit a home run in the new park. another that landed near us. When His was a two-run blow over the right Tiger outfielder Gates Brown saw our center field fence with one on to give younger son still didn’t have a ball, he WSU an early 2-0 lead. Then in the brought one to him. fifth inning, Hunter Gibson did even As we left for our seats with better. He hit Riverfront’s first grand the souvenirs in hand, Al Kaline, slam home run. the Tigers’ Hall of Fame outfielder, The park’s full-time tenants, the passed through the stands en route Wind Surge, open a home season to do a radio interview. He stopped, May 11 versus the Springfield, Mo., autographed the balls for the kids, Cardinals. Wichita is Minnesota’s AA then went on his way. Finally, when we affiliate. Springfield serves the same sat down, Tiger manager and former role for St. Louis. Yankee star Billy Martin stopped on
Connect with your community during Older Americans Month
moment or to say thank you. Learn more ideas by following CPAAA’s Facebook page and YouTube channel. Find both by using “Central Plains Area Agency on Aging” in the search bar of each site. Reach out to neighbors: Even if you can’t get together in person right now, you can still connect with your neighbors. Leave a small Look for joy in the everyday: gift on their doorstep, offer to help Celebrate small moments and with outdoor chores or deliver a ordinary pleasures by taking time to recognize them. Start a gratitude homecooked meal. Build new skills: Take a class journal and share it with others online through GetSetUP or via social media, or call a friend or Trualta by visiting CPAAA website family member to share a happy ^KD Z^ d W> W ZdD Ed^ By Monica Cissell May is Older Americans Month and Central Plains Area Agency on Aging (CPAAA) is celebrating it by encouraging community members to connect and share experiences. Together, we can find strength and create a stronger future. CPAAA has some fun ideas planned for Older Americans Month geared toward adults and those in their circles.
ŶũŽLJ Ă ŐƌĞĂƚ ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƚLJ ĂŶĚ ŚŽŵĞ Ăƚ ^ŽŵĞƌƐĞƚ WůĂnjĂ ƉĂƌƚŵĞŶƚƐ͊ EĞǁůLJ ƌĞŶŽǀĂƚĞĚ ĂŶĚ DŽǀĞ /Ŷ ƌĞĂĚLJ ĂƉĂƌƚŵĞŶƚƐ ǁŝƚŚ ŵŽĚĞƌŶͲĚĞƐŝŐŶƐ ĂŶĚ ĂĨĨŽƌĚĂďůĞ ^KD Z^ d W> W ZdD Ed^ ƉƌŝĐĞƐ Ύ/ŶĐŽŵĞ ĂƐĞĚΎ ŶũŽLJ Ă ŐƌĞĂƚ ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƚLJ ĂŶĚ ŚŽŵĞ Ăƚ ^ŽŵĞƌƐĞƚ WůĂnjĂ ƉĂƌƚŵĞŶƚƐ͊ ŽŵĞ ǀŝƐŝƚ ƵƐ ƚŽĚĂLJ͊ EĞǁůLJ ƌĞŶŽǀĂƚĞĚ ĂŶĚ DŽǀĞ /Ŷ ƌĞĂĚLJ ĂƉĂƌƚŵĞŶƚƐ ǁŝƚŚ ŵŽĚĞƌŶͲĚĞƐŝŐŶƐ ĂŶĚ ĂĨĨŽƌĚĂďůĞ Ϯϯϵϱ ^ŽŵĞƌƐĞƚ – tŝĐŚŝƚĂ͕ <^ ϲϳϮϭϰ ƉƌŝĐĞƐ Ύ/ŶĐŽŵĞ ĂƐĞĚΎ Kƌ Ăůů ƵƐ Ăƚ ;ϯϭϲͿ ϴϯϮͲϬϲϲϭ ĨŽƌ ŵŽƌĞ ŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƚŝŽŶ͊ ŽŵĞ ǀŝƐŝƚ ƵƐ ƚŽĚĂLJ͊ Ϯϯϵϱ ^ŽŵĞƌƐĞƚ – tŝĐŚŝƚĂ͕ <^ ϲϳϮϭϰ Kƌ Ăůů ƵƐ Ăƚ ;ϯϭϲͿ ϴϯϮͲϬϲϲϭ ĨŽƌ ŵŽƌĞ ŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƚŝŽŶ͊
at www.cpaaa.org. All classes are compliments of CPAAA. Try line dancing, technology classes, yoga, nutrition, caregiving, photography, social groups and more. Engage in Art Exploration and Outdoor Movement: These two opportunities are uniquely combined through a partnership between CPAAA and Ulrich Museum at Wichita State University. Meet up with friends, learn about art and tour the WSU campus. Enjoy a walking tour of the outdoor sculptures throughout campus or tour the exhibits at the indoor museum (self-guided or docent tours available). Admission
CPAAA is here when you need us. Call 855-200-2372 or visit www.cpaaa. org to find out more about programs and services available to adults 60+ and caregivers.
Comfortable apartments with great amenities in a great small-town enviroment
Larsen Apartments at Mt. Hope Nursing Center
• One and two bedroom apartments • Weekly maid & laundry service • Meals & activities • Rent $565-$590 per month with utilities paid (except cable, phone) • Great closet space! • Carports available
704 E. Main • Mt. Hope, KS • 316-667-2431
www.theactiveage.com
is complimentary. Follow us on Facebook for details to come in early May. Share your story: There’s a reason storytelling is a time-honored activity. Hearing how others experience the world helps us grow. Learn more about storytelling on a webinar hosted by CPAAA. Follow us on Facebook for the virtual workshop details to come in early May.
