Neighborhood Spotlight: Glover Cleveland Park

Hey Footy Family,

Up next in our weekly field feature is one of NYC Footy's staple fields in Queens, Grover Cleveland Park. If you live in Queens, Brooklyn, or work in midtown, this is one of the best spots for your afternoon and weekend games.

Up next: Grover Cleveland Park

The Field: 

The Grover Cleveland Park is a beautiful, recently renovated, turf field right on the border between Bushwick and Ridgewood (not to be confused with the Grover Cleveland Athletic Field, which is also nearby). 

The park itself is much larger than just the soccer fields, and a lot of effort has gone into maintaining the space as a calm, serene environment and it shows when you walk onto the field. The park is also one of the furthest east fields that Footy acquires permits for, making it a second home for a lot of Queens and Brooklynites who are a part of the footy family, so expect a particularly warm and welcoming environment when you arrive here for games.

The Neighborhood:

The Rookery Bar, is one of my favorite spots in Bushwick. It spans the spectrum of vibes, fitting everyone wearing cleats or collars, pennies or penny loafers, and everything in between. The interior is well decorated, with a large U shaped bar, booths both inside and out, and a few sets of Connect 4, Battleship, and Uno floating around the establishment as well as a foosball table. It's got great post game food and a wide selection of drinks. Put it down as a must visit.

Windjammer is your closest choice to the field, just four blocks away on Grandview Ave. If you're looking for an easy drink in a relaxed environment with a pool table that dabbles in karaoke, this is your spot. It’s a solid, laid back corner bar spot that’s guaranteed to entertain.

Echo Bravo is few blocks away from The Rookery and is perfect for larger groups. They've got tons of outdoor space on their patio, excellent wings, and even shuffle board for everyone who, like me, is 30 going on 75. 

Beyond that, just walk South from the field on either Starr or Troutman street. Within five blocks, you’ll be smack dab in the middle of a cluster of about 15 bars, 4 food trucks, artichoke pizza, and one incredible halal stand. You are also near two very fairly well known and celebrated venues in Elsewhere and House of Yes, just maybe grab a shower and an extra footy jersey to change into before you go in.

Fun Fact: Queens is the single most diverse county in the entire United States, with over 130+ languages spoken. A beautiful microcosm of that diversity plays out in Ridgewood, where the two largest demographic populations are the Hispanic/Latinx and Polish communities that call Ridgewood home.

Directions: 

Train: Your best bets are the L and the M. If you’re taking the L train, you’ll want to get off at either Jefferson Street or Dekalb Ave and then it’s a short walk. If you’re taking the M train, take it to the Forest Av stop and then again, its just a short walk from there.

Bike: As per usual, the field is very bike friendly with a Citibike station right in front of the pitch. 

Bus: The Q54 runs all along Metropolitan Ave on the North side of the park and runs deep into Williamsburg and far into Queens. You also have the B38 bringing you from South Brooklyn up to the field. 

Thanks for listening.

- James

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As always, we'd love any feedback you have about the fields, how to get there, or any hidden gems in the area. We promise to keep your secrets safe within our email blasts.