| General Park, located on the campus of Sullivan County Community College in Loch Sheldrake (NY), has no business being called a “professional” ballpark, but starting in 2016, it somehow found itself as home to the Sullivan Explorers of the Empire League. It is very basic, even by collegiate standards, and simply does not have any amenities that a pro ballpark should have. While I have no inside knowledge, I suspect Generals Park was chosen solely because the lease was cheap.
Hits
- About the only redeeming quality of Generals Park is the setting. Tucked away in a remote part of Sullivan County, it is both a peaceful and bucolic place to take in a ballgame.
- The team has a nice ticket stub. And at least the cost is only $5. Parking is free.
Misses
- All the seats (which are metal bleachers) are obstructed by netting or fencing.
- There are no lights, so all games have to be played during the afternoon hours. It is doubtful that anyone would show up anyhow, but playing games during the day eliminates most fans from even having a chance.
- The bathroom facilities consist of a single Port-a-John.
- There are no programs or scorecards to be found and you would be hard pressed to know what team played here as there is no signage whatsoever.
Eats
- While there is a small concession stand (Cody’s Canteen), it only offer bottled drinks, candy bars, and hot dogs. But with the dogs being prepared on an old gas grill and almost no fans in attendance, I would stay away from them.
Generals Park itself isn’t so bad if just used for community college baseball. But to see this park being used by a league that calls itself professional is a complete joke. The experience of taking in a game here is so bad that is laughable. But if you still want to check it out, you are in luck as the league is planning to have the Explorers return in 2017. But 2017 was the final season of the Explorers playing in Loch Sheldrake.
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