History
The athletic park was built in 1904-1905 and hosted the minor-league Rock Island Islanders from 1905 to 1937. The Rock Island Independents played football there from 1907, and on September 26, 1920 it hosted one of the first games of the new APFA, later the NFL.
The last NFL game at Douglas Park was played on November 22, 1925; the Independents moved to Moline in 1926. The park is still in use for baseball.
Why it matters: One of the venues of the NFL's first season in 1920.
Timeline
- September 26, 1920First NFL game[1]
The Independents beat the St. Paul Ideals 48-0 in the park's first NFL game.
- September 30, 1923Win over the Bears[1]
The Independents beat the Chicago Bears 3-0.
- November 22, 1925Last NFL game[1]
The Independents beat the Milwaukee Badgers 40-7 in the last NFL game at the park.
- May 9, 2017Diamond reopened[1]
The large diamond reopened after renovation.
The site today
| Physical status | Standing, repurposed |
|---|---|
| Current use | Youth baseball and American Legion Post 200 baseball |
| Mapped location | Former venue site |
Street View near the former site · Satellite view (external, current imagery)
Teams & events
| Rock Island Islanders | Three-I League · 1905–1937 |
|---|---|
| Rock Island Independents | APFA/NFL · 1907–1925 Independent before 1920 |
Listed here are organizations that used this physical venue. A franchise's history and a venue's history are tracked separately.
Venue facts
| Other names | Douglas Park; Douglass Park |
|---|---|
| Location | 18th Avenue and 10th Street, Rock Island, Illinois 61201, Rock Island, Illinois[1] |
| Venue type | Stadium |
| Sports | Football, Baseball |
| Level | NFL, Minor League Baseball |
| Opened | 1905[1] |
| Last used for sports | November 22, 1925[1] |
| Physical status | Standing, repurposed |
| Final capacity | 5,000[1] |
| Capacity notes | 5,000 (1925) |
| Closure | The Independents left for Browning Field in Moline in 1926. |
Documented details
Sources
- Douglas Park (Rock Island), Wikipedia. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: address, capacity, closed, coordinates, events, opened, teams
Research confidence
Some facts on this page rely on a single source or are still being corroborated. Treat specific dates and figures with care. Last reviewed 2026-10-19.
Where sources disagree (1)
- Wikipedia dates the 7-0 win over the Chicago Cardinals to October 7, 1920, but the cited box score is dated October 24, 1920.
See something wrong or missing? Suggest a correction or submit a source.