On a recent trip up to Rhode Island to celebrate my youngest son, Harrison turning 21 and to visit with my mother in North Kingstown, I had a short window of opportunity to visit some old friends. Some old friends meaning baseball fields that I spent a ton of time at for nearly 2 decades while I was living in Rhode Island. These fields mean something so much more to me that a pitcher’s mound, bases, and an outfield fence. They are part of the fabric of what was once the Rhode Island Baseball Experience and is now the Baseball Storyteller site. I could write volumes, books on what these baseball fields mean to me. Maybe that will come down the road a bit with time. But for now, I would like to share with you, in my humble opinion, the three best baseball fields in North Kingstown.
My three old baseball field/friend adventure actually began on the northbound side of Route 495 on Wednesday morning. I was actually planning a small road trip up to Lowell, MA and Manchester, NH to check out some baseball experiences that are on my bucket list. I had some time before my Mom returned from her adult care center, and got up early and on the road early. I had a rental car that seemed pretty solid and reliable. The weather was nearly perfect, I was really stoked to check out these new spots and add them to my baseball experience map. But, unluckily, I got a nail in the back rear tire, which popped the tire. National Car Rental was awesome in their response, I had a donut installed, and “limped” back to TF Green to replace the car. It was still early but I didn’t want to risk not seeing my Mom by driving up to Lowell and NH, so I decided to pivot and check out some of my favorite baseball fields in North Kingstown (RI). Starting with the one I spent the most time at – Wilson Park.
Wow, how much time did I spend at Wilson Park over a 10 to 15 year period? During Wickford, then North Kingstown/Wickford Little League baseball season, nearly everyday. Off season, I still spent a good amount of time over there throwing batting practice to my son, Harrison and playing catch. The main field at Wilson Park is named after a family friend, Ed Cooney, Sr. His son, Ed Cooney, Jr. continues the Cooney family tradition introducing his family to baseball as well as being very active in the baseball community. There is a plaque commemorating the kind of person Dr. Cooney (Sr.) was and I love that his legacy lives on with son Ed and his family. I loved all the new signage, especially the one showcasing 75 years of youth baseball in North Kingstown. Pretty cool being back at Cooney Field, even with no game going on, it was as electric as ever!
My next stop was a place I remember in high school and college as just a big, giant field. As a matter of fact, I used to mow this giant field when I worked for the North Kingstown Town of Public Works in college. Years later, the Lischio family would have the ultimate tribute to another North Kingstown baseball icon, Paul Lischio. Lischio Field is the crown jewel of baseball fields in Rhode Island youth sports, I will debate that with anyone. I loved all the new signage in right field displaying the two recent RI HS State Championships, 2021 and 2022. And all the senior photos of players I used coach when they were 6, 7, 8 years of age, now NKHS graduates. Very cool moment, I love this field so much!
My last stop was right up the road from my Mom’s house and I had just enough time to stop in. Feurer Park was and always will be one of the best hidden baseball treasures in Rhode Island. Ask 100 people in NK where Feurer Park is and I bet only a small percentage could tell you. It is hidden down a rocky dirt road, then a steep climb up to the parking lot, then you have “lug” your gear down a steel hill to get to the field. Heck, I probably still have a key to the equipment closet there. Feurer Park was typically set aside for the younger LL population, more of a training field before they got over to Wilson Park for the real stuff. Feurer Park was the scene of one of my most proud moments as a LL coach, where one night a few Dads and I staged an epic practice and home run derby that went all the way into the dark of the night. It remains one of my favorite baseball memories of my time coaching in Rhode Island. What an awesome spot for baseball.
Shout out to the Moms, Dads, Town of NK Public Works for maintaining these baseball fields to such high standards. It is always so awesome to visit them and take a few joyous walks down memory lane at each field. Wilson Park, Cooney Field, Feurer Park, Lischio Field – you will always be in my baseball heart and soul, no matter where I live and travel to.
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