Brooklyn � Council Member Simcha Felder (D-Brooklyn) and the Department of Parks and Recreation (Parks) enthusiastically announced the completion of an expansion to double the size of the playground at Friends Field park, located on Avenue L and East 3rd Street. The work is the culmination of nearly $3 million secured by Felder with Mayor Bloomberg and the City Council to build and expand the playground.

�When we first built the playground at Friend�s Field two years ago, I was blown away by its popularity,� said Felder. �Now, Friends Field has a bigger playground with all kinds of amenities for children. I hope everyone takes advantage of this beautiful and rewarding facility, especially during the summer months.�

In 2006, Parks completed work on the Friends Field playground with $1.5 million secured by Felder through the Council. By popular demand, Felder and the Parks Department teamed up to secure an additional $1.3 million to expand the playground. Another $1.5 million in improvements have gone to the renovation of the tennis courts and will rehabilitate the Friends Field comfort station, amounting to a total of well over $4 million in improvements to modernize the park and its facilities.

Felder added, �I�d like to thank the Department of Parks and Recreation and especially Brooklyn Borough Commissioner Julius Spiegel and his staff for their diligence in making Friends Field a premier neighborhood park. Its popularity is a testament to their hard work.�

(YWN Desk – NYC)