Arm & Hammer Park

Appropriately named based on its riverside location, Trenton's Waterfront Park is a comfortable place within which to watch a ballgame, although its insides lack views of the Delaware River from pretty much everywhere even though the riverbank is only about 20 feet from the right field fence. Still, it's a more impressive structure than the most notable building in New Jersey's capital city, which is the state capitol building that's less than two miles away from the brick-faced ballpark that features a wide variety of concessions on a wide concourse that rings the top of its grandstand. For sure, Waterfront Park is nothing fancy, but it is better than most of the ballparks in the region. The home of the Yankees' Double-A affiliate has a classic look thanks to its attractive brick facade and the sandy-colored rectangular stones that were used to build the press box and back wall of the concourse, which is a story of steps removed from street level. So most people do have to walk up a steep set of stairs to get to their seats, although one of the four gates was designed to be handicapped accessible. That gate is on the left field line, which is where a four-tiered picnic area for groups was added at grandstand's end. It's the only place in the lower level that's off-limits to regular fans, but next to it are three levels of wooden deck picnic table seating that anyone can sit in on a first-come, first-served basis. The upper level is the luxury suite level and there are plenty of them up there, while ad billboards are stacked four levels high everywhere but in right field, where a pretty useless hand-operated scoreboard merely duplicates some of what the main one in left-center lists. To see more than the score walk along the covered concourse, as throughout its length banners above list significant achievements of the franchise, including their attendance milestones. It's nicely done and, in general, this is a pleasing place, but one without much pizzazz that's biggest setback is that you can't really bask in the beautiful surroundings that the ballpark derives its name from.

Location and Parking

Waterfront Park is found in South Trenton, between Route 29 (John Fitch Parkway) and the Delaware River, which serves as the boundary between New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The borough of Morrisville, PA is directly across the river from the ballpark, which is just 1.6 miles from the New Jersey State House, the official name of the the gold dome topped New Jersey state capitol building.

Parking is plentiful, paved and on both sides of the ballpark. A smaller lot is behind left field and a very big one extends outward from the first base side facade. For those who prefer covered spaces, the big parking lot also has a four-story garage in it. The cost to park there is the same as the open-air lots.

The large lot is a dual-use one, as it's alongside the four Riverview Plaza office buildings that make up the Riverview Executive Park. The 400 building is the one closest to the ballpark and is where The Times of Trenton newspaper is based.

Unless it rains you're not going to see water from within Waterfront Park, which has a cross aisle within its grandstand, even though the stadium stands a short distance from the banks of the Delaware River. The river is behind right field but views of it are blocked by trees. Trees, billboards and an old factory across the river make up the ballpark's backdrop.