By Wesley Harris
Nestled amid rolling woodlands, Elmore D. Mayfield Park—long known as Woodland Park—blends natural beauty, local heritage, and deep-rooted tradition.
Spanning nearly 66 acres, the park has long been a gathering place for play, rest, and remembrance. The park became not only a recreational refuge but a living tribute to Ruston’s evolving identity.
Originally called Woodland Park, this stretch of land served as Ruston’s primary green space for much of the 20th century. In 2016, it was renamed to honor Elmore D.
Mayfield, a respected civic figure and advocate for community development. He served on the Ruston City Council for 21 years.
Within the park once stood the famed Fraser Field, a wooden‑grandstand ballpark transplanted from downtown Ruston. From 1922 to 1938, Ruston held baseball games in Memorial Park. In the early 1940s, baseball advocate Roy Fraser (nicknamed “Mr. Baseball”) and Ned Causey had the grandstand dismantled board by board and rebuilt it at Woodland Park—enhancing parking and accessibility—where it became known as Fraser Field.
A variety of leagues played at Fraser Field, sometimes drawing as many as 3,000 fans. There was American Legion ball with the T. L. James Contractors who won a state championship. The Ruston Ramblers, a semi-pro team, played in the Big Eight League. The Ruston Volunteers, the Black Sox, and their opposition from other north Louisiana towns produced many professional players.
Long before playgrounds and pavilions dotted its landscape, Woodland Park played a quieter, more strategic role. It served as a bivouac site for U.S. Army units during the lead-up to and during World War II.
In the early 1940s, military maneuvers ramped up across the southern states as America braced for possible involvement in global conflict. U. S. Highway 80 across north Louisiana became a vital corridor for these training exercises and for shipment to embarkation points to the war. Woodland Park’s size, tree cover, open spaces, and easy access to U. S. 80 made it an ideal spot for overnight encampments, equipment staging, and field coordination.
Convoys of troops would pause here for rest overnight before continuing to their destination. Sometimes Ruston community leaders would arrange picnics or dances between local girls and the troops.
With plenty of chaperones, of course.
At the park’s heart lies a spring-fed lake shaded by towering hardwoods. The surrounding flora includes oaks, pines, and native flowers. Birds, dragonflies, and the soft splash of turtles slipping into the water add to the serenity. Whether you’re walking the shoreline or resting on a bench, the lake remains the soul of the park.
The City of Ruston has stocked the lake with catfish and trout, but I can’t attest to the quality of the fishing.
Basketball has become the sport of choice at Mayfield Park with the addition of several courts. The park has grown into a full-service recreational area, including:
Baseball field, still called Fraser Field
Softball field
Two basketball courts
Splash pad
Playgrounds
Single-table picnic shelters
Community pavilion
Walking paths
Restroom facilities
Strolling through Mayfield Park, you’re walking through layers of local history—from the crack of wooden bats at Fraser Field to the calm ripples of the lake under a canopy of leaves. It stands as Ruston’s cherished green gathering place, balancing recreation, heritage, and natural serenity.
Of course, it can become a lively place if a large family reunion or a softball game is underway. But the park is so big, it’s easy to find a quieter area.
As sunlight filters through century-old trees and families gather overlooking the water, Mayfield Park continues to serve its highest calling: a place where Ruston’s past and present meet under the open sky.
Mayfield Park is located at 1701 Martin Luther King Drive (La. Highway 146) across from the old fairgrounds. The park is open from sunrise to sunset. Swimming and overnight camping are prohibited.
