Pioneer Park
Greeneville, TN
Review by Gary
Pioneer Park is located on the campus of Tusculum University in the Greeneville, Tennessee area. The baseball stadium is adjacent to Pioneer Field, the school football field. With one of the stadium’s residents, the Appalachian League’s Greeneville Flyboys, on the road, I walked into the offices to see if I could take a quick peek at this inviting ballpark. I met Kat Foster, the General Manager, who very kindly took a moment from her day to guide me to the concourse so I could take some photos.
Pioneer Park was completed in 2004 for the Greeneville Astros of the then-Rookie Appy League. The Astros would play here until 2017 when the Reds took over the affiliation until 2020. The Flyboys arrived in 2021 as part of the new collegiate designation of the league. The Flyboys name is in honor of the World War II-era airfield that was once on the site of Pioneer Park. With a total capacity of 4,000, the university baseball team has enjoyed playing here since it opened.
All seats are an individual bucket design that are framed in beautifully by a majestic, curved metal roof that runs the entire length of seating area. This structure, supported by intricate steel latticework, is reminiscent of an old aircraft hangar. The last row of seats is shaded by this high roof which also protects the wide concourse behind them. Fans can choose from with a variety of concession stands on the concourse.
The unique metal-mesh batters eye blends well with the trees that lie beyond the outfield. There is a nice raised walkway trail that wends from the 3rd base side and around the outfield fence through those trees and overlooks the field for a spell. The Bermuda grass and vintage crushed brick warning track frame the symmetrical dimensions of the field. A brick wall lines the backstop from dugout to dugout behind home and works well with crisp lines of the cool roof.
I particularly liked the Greeneville Baseball Museum that sits behind the concourse on the third base side. In this circular atrium, fans can check out three large glass cases of vintage jerseys, photos, and other memorabilia from not only the various Greeneville teams, but Tusculum University baseball history as well. Pioneer Park looks like a very attractive place to catch ANY ballgame. Thanks again to Kat for letting me walk around to take in its beauty.
2022
--
--
193
