Beal Park Keeps a Windmill and Old Ranch Buildings Among the Ball Fields

Beal Park sits on 112 acres at 5200 W. Wall Street on the west side of Midland, and what sets it apart from the other big parks is the bit that has nothing to do with sports. Tucked among the fields are old ranch buildings and a windmill with an elevated water tank, the same setup that once pulled groundwater up for cattle across this part of West Texas. It's a small, honest reminder of what the ground here did before the city grew over it.

The rest is a proper community park. There's baseball and softball, basketball, soccer, and even a cricket field, a sign of who's moved to Midland for the oilfield. A lighted in-ground skate park keeps the teenagers busy after dark, and there's a fishing spot, picnic areas, and a playground for everyone else.

It's open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day. Come for a ballgame and you'll leave knowing a little more about how this country was worked before the pump jacks showed up.