Ranking the four New York Mets minor league stadiums

1) The Brooklyn Cyclones play right on the boardwalk and let the summer euphoria run wild in Maimonides Park, one of the best minor league stadiums currently operating.

To conclude this ranking, the best Mets minor league ballpark goes to Maimonides Park, home of the Brooklyn Cyclones, who is the High-A affiliate of the Mets.

Maimonides Park was one part of the restoration project that took place on Coney Island in the early 21st century. The ballpark stands on the old site of Steeplechase Park, which was a 15-acre amusement park that fell into disrepair once it was closed down in 1964 because of rising crime in New York City and the deterioration of the Coney Island infrastructure.

The playing field of Maimonides Park has undergone a significant change since it first opened. Although it was built with a grass playing field, the arrival of Hurricane Sandy back in 2012 caused major damage to the stadium, including the field, concession stands, and clubhouse. Because of the damage done to the park, it was decided that Maimonides Park will transition to artificial turf, which is what makes up the playing surface today.

What makes Maimonides Park stand out more than the other three stadiums on this list is its magnificent setting. The stadium is situated on Coney Island at the southernmost part of Brooklyn right along the beach. The stadium overlooks the Atlantic Ocean and also offers spectacular views of the Coney Island boardwalk beyond the outfield wall. The Parachute Jump is visible beyond the right field wall, and the Coney Island Cyclone ride and Wonder Wheel (a giant Ferris wheel) is seen beyond the left field wall.

The stadium plays up the summertime beach theme in its design and aesthetics as well. With its free-standing concessions and its overhanging fluorescent lamps, the stadium evokes an amusement park atmosphere, which is synonymous to summer.

Coney Island is known as “The Playground of the World,” and based on the area that Maimonides Park is situated in, it is no wonder why. There are not many better places to take in a ballpark in the summertime than on a boardwalk.