The first Parsons High School, costing $30,000, was built in 1893 at 26th and Main. Prior to this time high school classes were held in the 3rd ward school. The school offered a three year course with one year of post-graduate work. It was not until the early 1900's that it offered a full four year course.

Parks In Parsons Kansas

Parks

Circle Park 35th and Briggs What's there?Children's playground equipment, shelter house, picnic tables.
	Clark Street Park 1300 block of Clark What's there? Half court basketball, children's playground equipment, pinic table.
Forest Park 1 block south of Main on Heacock What's there? Full court basketball, children's playground equipment, pinic tables, shelter houses, grills for bbqing, tennis courts, many sidewalks for walking, frisbee golf, horse shoe pits.
	Glenwood Park 21st and Southern What's there?Full court basketball, children's playground equipment, picnic tables, shelter house with fireplace, bathrooms, grills, frisbee golf.
Lopez Park 1000 N. 21st What's there?Full court basketball, picnic tables, children's playground equipment.
McElhaney Park 29th and Appleton
Prairie West Park 32nd and Dirr What's there?Fishing pond, picnic tables, shelter house, children's playground equipment.
	PKY Skate Park 1926 Crawford What's there?Skate park, rails and ramps. Right next to Watson Park
Railroad Park 26th and Maple What's there?Children's playground equipment and a caboose, picnic table.
	Watson Park 20th and Crawford What's there?Full court basketball, grill. Right next to PKY Skate Park
Winway Park Willow and Walnut What's there?Shelter house, children's playground equipment. Located between 2 ball fields.

The area in which Parsons, KS is situated was organized as Dorn County by the first territorial legislature meeting in 1855. The name was changed to Neosho County in 1865 , Mr. dorn having joined with the confederates in 1861. Labette county was authorized and approved by the governor in 1867 as the north half of the county was settled first and established government there didn't look kindly on the people who settled in the southern half of the county. Those people, wishing to be self-governing, finally established themselves as a county. The name Labette comes from a Frenchman, Pierre LaBette, who is credited with being the first white settler in this part of the country, making his home on the creek just west of what is now Oswego.

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