![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWL4SrOt4anUBDXh2v20dsQDs4hwWMZSQ6oiPH8VYm3epYO2IXBstV8EH2CSFv7OcHpixHGxGDk0e3uET8JjeZGlxrSEybajg4Rr8u1to-wQiauQ22Kfx-TV0P-FGTDg2Wve69Y1oHWb1g/s400/soccer.jpg)
[Photo by Greg Masters]
This past spring, workers started prepping the empty field adjacent to East Side Community School on East 12th Street between Avenue A and First Avenue… all under the watchful
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv0IhVh0E5xobZ9tnbcveDr9KspVwuq0IrvZs-2qFaWA6rVqTRloI-BD1UoQNdiBadF9g6ofJwRvE0NineNar-kd_jNGz6X2t9bFpc1K0Hf926_UV4JRIEN1IY0Cw5VBmKrzR84Px3H5Rr/s540/soccer1.jpg)
[GM]
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[GM]
Fast-forward to Friday…
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaXEwzZHQhc1q40HR4BJXPgtOczSXiydLx4ZwWlpXKslGTL0NQH-Rg7q2gN-yAczLbg6Y2WlEngaUUFJgDnhM3omEiI3DPh34e1wFJfSThNcXYIoblzBpcth-WFsQ3rk9z0SCygx-OaKvD/s400/Lola+Sa%25CC%2581enz.jpg)
[Photo by Lola Sáenz]
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The mini-pitch is courtesy of the New York Red Bulls, the U.S. Soccer Foundation and the NYC Parks Department, who collaborated "to provide both critical afterschool programming and a safe place to play for New York City youth."
And the ribbon-cutting ceremony takes place this afternoon at the site.
The space will be known at the Lower East Side Playground Field.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Bhj-cGVgcttzuFHscXWnvMX46cq5GKNp4BkmTYkhqB8tXSKTXRM_5HnBVG_1re1sp0Gnj8A0j0jSdf4ycYeA0qx8HCAuQoKjqVUJOhyphenhyphen-qTuxtHhSwph3nOInvM96j20geJXQsVY_yQVl/s400/pitch.jpg)
[Photo from the March groundbreaking via Facebook]