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Gooooal! Pros and kids kick off new ‘street’ soccer field in Red Hook

Gooooal! Pros and kids kick off new ‘street’ soccer field in Red Hook
Photo by Louise Wateridge

They had a ball!

Red Hook youngsters got to test their soccer skills against professional players on Friday at the opening of a new kid-friendly field in Bush Clinton Playground.

Around 200 pint-sized Peles played games and drills with stars from the New York Red Bulls, New York Cosmos, and New Jersey’s Sky Blue FC on the new asphalt arena from Street Soccer USA, an organization that builds free fields in low-income areas.

The pop-up stadium — on Clinton and Henry streets at the edge of the Red Hook Ball Fields — is slightly larger than a basketball court and is enclosed by barriers so the ball always stays at young players’ feet. It will be open to the community around the clock.

After cutting the ribbon on the new playing ground, families also enjoyed games, food, music, and a climbing wall.

Reach reporter Madeline Anthony by e-mail at manthony@cnglocal.com or by pnone at (718) 260–8321.