Update on Community Time At Hamilton Metz – Lefferts Park

Rabbi Yaacov Behrman has released the following update on community time he has secured for Hamilton Metz – Lefferts Park.

We have once again secured Friday as community time. The Parks Department has reserved all day Friday for the community.

Thank you Jose Luis Jimenez, Deputy Director of Brooklyn Parks Permits & Special Events, for accommodating this request.

Regarding the rest of the week,

According to the Parks Department, the soccer court at Hamilton Metz – Lefferts Park has the following schedule:

Weekday before 3pm:

The Parks Department has not issued any permits. Open to the public.

Weekday 3-6pm

Those slots are reserved for NYC schools, public, private and charter during school season. Any school can apply and receive a permit. The court is open to the public when it isn’t reserved for a school.

Weekday 6PM-8PM

Leagues, soccer clubs and organizations have the ability to reserve and pull permits. Some of these slots have been reserved and used by the same groups since 2019.

There were several near altercations recently after community children were forced off the soccer court by leagues and soccer clubs.

Underprivileged local children are less likely to join a league or club and have nowhere to play.

We are advocating with the Park Department for more community time. We are also discussing with local elected the possibility of passing a bill that would mandate a certain percentage of after-school hours be allotted to community time citywide.

In the meantime, speak your children’s school about reserving the soccer field during the hours of 3pm-6pm.

In addition, Anash leagues, clubs and organizations should also be requesting permits and reserving the court for some of these after-school hours.