Tosa East football returns to Hart Park more than a year after field was destroyed by flooding
CBS 58 WAUWATOSA, Wis. (CBS 58) — Friday night football is back across Wisconsin as hundreds of high schools returned to the field Aug. 21.
That return is extra special in Wauwatosa, where Hart Park is hosting a Tosa East home football game for the first time since historic flooding destroyed the field in August 2025.
The significance was not lost on families or fans, who were eager to enjoy the sense of community they missed last season.
For the first time in more than a year, the sounds of Friday night football returned to Hart Park. Fans cheered, whistles blew and players crashed together on the field.
Melodie Fox is president of the Tosa East Touchdown Club. Her husband is also a varsity coordinator, and her son, Louie, is the team's quarterback.
"Everyone's just been in really good moods and just are really, I think, thrilled to be here," Fox said.
The Red Raiders played a true home game for the first time since their field was heavily damaged by the August 2025 flooding.
Tosa East senior Tyler was leading the student section Friday.
"It feels great, you know, just seeing the guys having fun on the field and being in the student section," he said.
The flooding caused millions of dollars in damage at Hart Park. It took months to secure the funding needed for repairs.
A $1 million donation from the TOSA Foundation helped fund the recovery efforts, and the stadium reopened in the spring with new turf and other repairs.
Last season's home games were played at Wauwatosa West.
"It just was really uncomfortable having to go over to the other side of town," Fox said.
She said the move kept some fans from attending and altered the atmosphere surrounding home games.
Aidan, another Tosa East senior, said, "I'm just really glad for these boys to get to play on their home field and not Tosa West's field."
"Ever since they redid it after the floods, I think it just brought, like, a new thunder to the team," senior Finn said.
Now, the team is back home, ready to focus on football and embrace the community spirit it missed last season.
"It's just such a relief, really," Fox said. "You know, because you feel like you're home."
There are still fundraiser flyers around Hart Park, but Fox said those efforts are helping pay for equipment and team dinners, not repairs to the field.
