McKeon Park
Hyannis, MA
Review by Gary
Once a football field for a local high school, McKeon Park was reconstructed in the late 1970s to play host to the Hyannis Mets of the Cape Cod Baseball League (CCBL), who began play here in 1979. Permanent lighting was first installed at McKeon prior to the 1985 season and within 10 years, had fallen into disrepair. As with most Cape Cod League ballparks, a sizable donation was given by The Yawkey Foundation to upgrade the facility, including the light standards.
In 2008, Major League Baseball greedily decided to start charging CCBL teams using their team nicknames to enforce its trademarks. The Hyannis organization smartly decided to save their money and changed its name to the “Harbor Hawks” in 2009 out of respect for the local ospreys that had taken up residence high atop those light poles. Why they weren’t simply called the Ospreys is anyone’s guess, but at least using that name isn’t as expensive. The Harbor Hawks kept the orange and blue and still incorporate the Met pinstripes on the home uniforms, which look sharp on the field.
McKeon Park’s main feature is its attractive saltbox-styled combination press box, gift shop, concession stand, party porch, and maintenance shed. Two fading Met blue wooden bleacher benches line the brick backstop and flank the press box while traditional aluminum, handicap-accessible bleachers three times the size and height provide fans with better sight lines further down the third base line.
As with most CCBL ballparks, McKeon Park has a sizeable grassy area for fans to bring their own seating, including a level, wooden platform for those in ADA chairs to park and enjoy the action from the berm. In total, the stadium can accommodate up to 3,000 fans.
The most unique and felicitous feature of McKeon Park is the use of crushed seashells in lieu of gravel on walkways from the fixed seating and around the grandstand. This feature is quintessential Cape Cod and was a welcome sight, especially with the backdrop of the Shaker shingled press box. Hyannis and its famous harbor are just a few blocks from this charming ballpark. Walking over and taking in a Harbor Hawk game after a June or July day on Martha’s Vineyard is highly recommended.
2024
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