DECATUR — If you were born in the river city of Decatur, then you are most likely familiar with the intense rivalry between Decatur High School and Austin High School.
The two schools’ competitive spirit is deeply integrated within their mottos, with Decatur High’s stating the school’s roots, “Pride, Tradition, and Excellence”, and Austin’s being “The Austin Way.”
Decatur High’s predecessor, Riverside High, opened in 1923. Within the next few years, the school fielded football and basketball teams.
From 1931-47, Riverside played its home football games at Benson Field, which is at present-day Rhodes Ferry Park. Over these 17 seasons, the popularity of football surged.
Ogle Stadium became the new home for the Red Raiders in 1948, and still is 77 years later. As the city continued to grow, Decatur High became overfilled, prompting the development and opening of Austin High School in 1965.
A new rivalry developed, nicknamed the “River City Rivalry”, and is now recognized as one of Alabama’s most recognized high school rivalries. For the past 60 years, this rivalry helped develop Decatur into a city that is passionate for the two high schools, especially with their athletics.
Due to this, success has inevitably followed.
Decatur High has won 12 state championships across seven sports, most recently in girls’ tennis in 2017. Austin High has secured five state titles across three sports, with its last in girls’ cross country in 2002.
Coach Stuart Lamp is a 2001 Decatur High graduate and head coach for cross country and track & field at DHS. He has seen the intensity and competitiveness between the two schools for several years.
“The rivalry is so strong because this crosstown rivalry still lives on for adults, as well as the current students and the two schools are the two large, longstanding schools in town,” he said.
Lamp said for the two schools, very few wins mean more than a win in this rivalry.
Recreational sports for younger kids started up as a reflection of the high schools’ competitiveness. Youth leagues for football, basketball, baseball, and soccer developed in the mid-to-late 20th century.
The city saw a domino effect.
As more children became involved in sports, high school athletic programs grew stronger, and adults and college students joined intramural and recreational leagues. By the 1970s, Decatur began investing in recreational facilities to support these growing programs and to attract regional sports tournaments.
The popularity of sports remains high today, decades after the popularization of high school and youth sports. Even new sports, such as pickleball, have had hundreds of participants of all ages.
Because of this, the Decatur City Council has approved several plans for new recreational facilities to replace the older ones.
The new facilities include a Community Recreation Center at Wilson Morgan Park, which will contain four indoor basketball and volleyball courts, a 10-lane swimming pool, and a running track. It is expected to open next summer.
Also, at Jack Allen Recreational Complex, a new softball and baseball complex is under construction.
At Point Mallard, the 12-court Jimmy John’s Pickleball Center has just opened to the public.
Carlton McMasters, the District 3 City Councilman for the city of Decatur and liaison for Decatur Parks & Recreation, said he is excited about the recreational development.
“I’m proud that over the last 4 years Decatur has committed to over $75 million in new recreation projects,” he said.
According to McMasters, the idea behind the new facilities was to promote sports tourism in Decatur.
“Sports tourism is something I’m hoping we see a renewed focus on,” he said. “Wilson Morgan hosts travel softball tournaments’ Jack Allen Recreational complex, which is one of the nicest in the Southeast hosts soccer.
“The pickleball facility is quickly filling up with tournaments and the Tennessee River being right in our back yard, Ingalls has seen several professional fishing tournaments.”
With the new sportsplex and recreation centers coming, McMasters hopes that baseball, swimming, volleyball and basketball could all host their own tournaments along with softball and soccer.
Don Dukemineer, the director of Sports Development at Decatur Morgan County Tourism, is also looking forward to the new facilities.
“From a sports tourism perspective, the new facilities will allow our current, and prospective events, to welcome more teams and participants with the addition of new fields and courts,” he said.
Dukemineer said he is looking forward to how recreation will impacting the hospitality industry over the next several years.
In the 2024–2025 fiscal year, Decatur hosted 44 sports events that generated $7.4 million in economic impact, and that number will rise significantly with the new facilities.
“From swimming at Point Mallard, to the walking trails at Point Mallard and Wheeler National wildlife refuge, the Bill Sims Bike trail to existing and new facilities, there’s something for everyone to do,” McMasters said.
Thanks to the council’s efforts, Decatur remains a city of opportunity.
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