New York City FC on Tuesday morning announced a historic and groundbreaking initiative that will result in 50 new soccer fields in underserved areas throughout New York City’s five boroughs.
The plan, called the New York City Soccer Initiative, was announced at Millbrook Playground in the South Bronx, which will be one of the first eight fields constructed.
NYCFC, in conjunction with Mayor Bill de Blasio, the Mayor’s Fund to Advance NYC, the U.S. Soccer Foundation, and Adidas, pledge to invest $3 million to build and maintain the fields, as well as provide after-school programming for 10,000 children.
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“We are literally leveling the playing field,” De Blasio said. “We are literally giving our young people the opportunity to have some of the great amenities, the great chances young people who are more privileged get to have as well.”
In addition to Millbrook Playground, where area youth soccer players had a chance to compete with David Villa, Frank Lampard and Jason Hernandez in small-sided games Tuesday morning, fields at J.H.S. 166 George Gershwin and Cypress Hills Houses in Brooklyn, Irwin Altman Middle School 172 and South Jamaica Houses in Queens, Eagle Academy for Young Men of Staten Island and Harlem Lane Playground and P.S. 83 Luis Munoz Rivera in Manhattan are expected to be available in 12 months.
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After that, 10 additional fields will be constructed in 2017 and the Club will help identify the remaining 32 sites where all-weather acrylic fields will be built over the course of the next five years.
“Today is about the future of New York City soccer,” New York City FC President Jon Patricof said. “To be a sustainable part of the future we need to look beyond the boundaries of the Stadium we play in, we need to look deeply into the communities that we are striving to represent. On behalf of our owners, our board, and everyone who has been a part of our Club’s short history, we could not be more excited and more proud to be a part of the New York City soccer initiative.”
IMAGES: NYC Soccer Initiative Announcement
The program will also provide after-school soccer and mentoring programs, such as soccer clinics, festivals and youth summits to promote safe, active and connected communities. The New York City Soccer Initiative will also include a partnership with the City’s Young Men’s Initiative, providing young men of color with mentorship opportunities.
“On each of those pitches we will see a community of kids coming together, learning from each other, playing together and developing together,” NYCFC Sporting Director Claudio Reyna said. “Between the pitches we will see a network of young leaders who can make a positive contribution to their neighborhoods.”
