Address: 1234 E 6th St, New York, NY 10009
Website: John V. Lindsay East River Park Page
Hours Of Operation:
6 am to 1 am, 7 days a week
There’s nothing quite like soccer in the Big Apple. That’s why we’ve partnered with multiple pickup leagues across New York City to bring you all more field options! These leagues host their matches year-round on dozens of unique pitches across NYC, and as part of this partnership, we are bringing Plei App games to their spaces in order to fill in on days that the leagues aren’t running.
That being said, these blogs will answer all the questions that you usually ask before you head out to play some ball, like…
Is it a 6v6, 7v7, 8v8 or 9v9 field? Artificial grass or natural? What are the exact measurements? Where should I park? What subway train do I take and where do I get off? Are there good food/drink options nearby? Are there any other cool things to do or see in the surrounding area?
Fear not: all these questions and more will be answered within each blog, so you can confidently suit up, head out and have fun playing some pickup footy, New York style. 🗽😎
Despite city plans to demolish the park, it still remains a popular destination for locals, who want to take advantage of the high-quality sports fields and courts until the very last day.
Keep reading to learn more about this particular field, and some useful tips and recommendations to keep in mind before you pull up for your pickup game. Click below to navigate to any particular section that you’re interested in! 👇
This particular artificial field is one of two soccer fields currently available at East River Park, and you’ll know you’re at the right one when you see the quarter mile running track that circles the area.
Extra nets are available for smaller games, so 7v7, 8v8 and 9v9 can be played as well!
Bleachers for spectators are installed on the west side of the field, in front of the public restrooms.
You can catch action-packed 11v11 games on this field throughout the week on the Plei App. Don’t miss out!
The Plei App first hosted a pickup game at John V. Lindsay East River Park Track on July 13, 2023, and we continue to play here weekly.
Due to recent demolitions, unfortunately, there is no more on-site parking lot. Your best bet will be to find parking along FDR Drive and connecting streets. Prioritize East 6th Street, keeping an eye out for open parallel parking spots.
Once you park, make your way back down East 6th Street, making a right and heading up the ramp in order to cross FDR Drive overhead. This will lead you directly to the gated entrance of the track/soccer field.
For subway goers, take the F service all the way to the 2nd Avenue station. From here, you can either take a 20-minute walk to the park or take bus service M14D-SBS to Avenue D & East 5 Street.
You can also just grab a Citi Bike fresh off the subway, which all things considered, will probably get you to the park sooner. Make sure to drop it off at the E 6th St & Avenue D station.
If you’re coming from parking a car, dropping off a Citi Bike or hopping off the bus, you’ll want to make your way to these coordinates. This is the entrance to a pedestrian bridge that will take you over FDR Drive and directly to the field. From here, just walk through the gates.
Of course there is! If you didn’t already notice, the park is conveniently located besides the East River, so you’ll have beautiful waterfront views to enjoy. Feel free to walk along the promenade, or relax on a bench, with views of Brooklyn and the Williamsburg Bridge.
You can also take a look at all the other fields available at East River Park, which includes 6 baseball/softball fields, 2 basketball courts and another 11v11 soccer field.
Although you’ll have to head west a block or two, it may as well be worth it to grab something to munch on, especially after a tough 11v11 game. Here are our recommendations for food and drink near John V. Lindsay East River Park.
Crown Fried Chicken (Located near the corner of East 8th Street and Avenue D, just a block away from the park. Take East 6th Street then make a right on Avenue D.) - A halal chicken spot open for takeout and delivery. Wings, sandwiches, popcorn chicken, gyros, tenders, patties, fries, burgers, ice cream, milkshakes, pie; they have it all here.
Karibbean (Located just a few businesses down from Crown Fried Chicken on Avenue D, a block away from the park.) - Grab yourself some takeout or dine in at this Latin American restaurant. Pick from combo selections or build your own unique plate. They also have sandwiches, juices, shakes, coffee and desserts.
Pioneer (In between Crown Fried Chicken and Karibbean, a block away from the park.) - If you’re just looking to grab something and go without having to wait on any food service, we don’t blame you. Luckily, a Pioneer supermarket is not too far from the park. Get yourself whatever you need here.
This 57.5-acre public park first opened way back in 1939, becoming the largest open green space on the Lower East Side.
Over the decades, it has seen countless renovations. Today, it boasts multiple baseball/softball fields, two (2) basketball courts (1 full, 1 half), two (2) full-sized soccer fields, a quarter-mile running track, and a waterfront pathway that stretches along the entire length of the park for bicyclists and pedestrians to enjoy.
Formerly, the park included a tennis center, amphitheater and two more sports fields, which have since been removed as part of ongoing demolition plans that will last until 2025.
Thanks for reading Pitchside by Plei, a blog series highlighting the best field spaces in your city! ⚽
If you want to get familiar with other unique soccer fields from the Lower East Side all the way up to Washington Heights and beyond, don’t hesitate to click the following links below! 👇
