Noisy Friends Field visitors upset nearby homeowners

Residents complain loud music is keeping them up nights

May 20, 2016 By Paula Katinas Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Assemblymember Dov Hikind (second from right) meets with police officials and local residents to discuss the troubling situation in the park. Photo courtesy of Hikind’s office

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Deafening music, annoying whistle blowing and all sorts of other loud noises coming from Friends Field are keeping Borough Park residents up at night, according to Assemblymember Dov Hikind, who brought together residents, cops and officials from the Department of Parks and Recreation to hammer out solutions.

“It is unbelievable and unacceptable that people are being subjected to deafening noise in their own homes,” Hikind said during the meeting at the Friends Field Clubhouse on May 12. “We have a situation where homeowners’ lives are being disrupted, and we simply cannot allow for that to continue. This isn’t Yankee Stadium. We shouldn’t have to hear loud music being played at midnight.”

Friends Field is bounded by Avenue L, East Fourth Street, McDonald Cemetery and Washington Cemetery, and is named for the Society of Friends, a religious group more commonly known as the Quakers.

Capt. Kenneth Quick of the 66th Precinct was among those attending the meeting, which Hikind said he organized after hearing complaints from more than 25 irate community residents about excessive noise at the park at night and during the early morning hours.

The noise is particularly unbearable on weekends, residents told Hikind.

Following the meeting, Hikind and the police walked through Friends Field to begin enforcing park regulations.

Despite the noise complaints, Hikind said local residents should use Friends Field to take advantage of what the recreation areas have to offer.

“These parks provide families with hours of entertainment on the weekends, and are a great place to spend time with loved ones. I’m not against anyone having fun in the park. However, rules need to be enforced. If the rules are enforced, people will abide by them and we’ll start to see the noise dissipate.”

Hikind said he would continue to monitor the noise issue, especially with summer coming soon.