TOLEDO, OHIO ? Sitting at a picnic table above the ballpark’s left-field wall, Susan Schaffer munched on sweet corn and a chocolate chip cookie. Her five boys stood along the fence hoping to catch a home run ball and cheering on the Toledo Mud Hens.

“The seats are cheap enough that it’s one of the few activities we can do as a family without going broke,” Schaffer said. “It’s just a good time.”

A building boom over the last decade has turned drab minor-league ballparks into showplaces of America’s pastime. Combining brick facades and architecture that blends the ballparks into their urban settings, they are a far cry from their concrete and steel predecessors.

Many have the same fan-friendly features found in the major leagues, but without the high prices. And, combined with nearby attractions, a trip to the ballpark can be part of a perfect getaway.

Oklahoma City’s ballpark is the anchor of the town’s entertainment district. Louisville Slugger Field in Kentucky is a short trolley ride from the bat maker’s museum. And Brooklyn’s KeySpan Park is steps from New York’s famed Coney Island boardwalk.

“When it’s done right, you can make a weekend out of it,” said Charlie O’Reilly, of Rutherford, N.J., a baseball fan who has visited more than 300 ballparks.

Tickets at minor-league parks average about $9, although food and drink prices are sometimes more in line with those at major-league games. A number of new parks have playgrounds or grassy areas where the kids can play if they get antsy.

Movies such as “Bull Durham” and the season-

ending major league strike in 1994 helped renew interest in the minors, O’Reilly said.

So have the new urban ballparks. Among the best are those nestled into downtowns and close to other attractions:

¢ Auto Zone Park in Memphis, Tenn., is steps from the renowned Peabody Hotel and two blocks from the music clubs on Beale Street. The ballpark serves up barbecue nachos with pulled pork from a nearby rib joint. The smell of grilling ribs sometimes makes its way into the seats.

¢ AT&T Bricktown Ballpark, home of the Oklahoma Redhawks, sits next to a canal where visitors can ride a water taxi. There’s also plenty of shopping, outdoor dining and nightclubs. “The whole neighborhood has become a destination,” O’Reilly said.

¢ Louisville Slugger Field is close to not only the baseball bat museum but also the Fourth Street Live entertainment district, featuring a comedy club, music clubs and a Hard Rock Cafe. “People just pour over there after the game,” said Louisville Bats spokesman Svend Jansen. “Most of the people who come here aren’t coming to see the players. It’s the attractions, the promotions.”

¢ Toledo’s Fifth Third Field has picnic tables beyond the outfield and a view of the downtown skyline from most seats. The view surprises most out-of-towners, who don’t expect to see skyscrapers in a midsize city, said Joe Napoli, general manager of the Mud Hens.

Next to the stadium is a new Tony Packo’s restaurant that serves up Hungarian hot dogs made famous by Toledo native Jamie Farr on television’s “M-A-S-H.” The baseball-themed eatery has ballpark seats in its lobby.

Some ballparks are worth visiting for the view alone:

¢ All three minor-league parks in Utah – Salt Lake City, Ogden and Orem – have stunning views of the Wasatch Mountains.

¢ The Richmond County Bank Ballpark, home of the Staten Island Yankees, overlooks New York harbor, the Statue of Liberty and lower Manhattan.

¢ The Atlantic Ocean and Coney Island are the backdrop at Brooklyn Cyclones games. Fans making a trip to the game can add a stop at Nathan’s Famous for a hot dog or a ride on the Cyclone roller coaster.