Creating Places to Play

Many urban areas lack quality field space that will stand up to the wear and tear of constant use. Field Grants from the Foundation support the construction and improvement of soccer fields in the U.S. and provide young people with safe places to play.

The Foundation awards grants to assist with every stage of the field building process – from planning and designing a new field to installing the finishing touches, such as lights and field boards.

In cooperation with our National Partner, FieldTurf, the Foundation awards Footprint Fields (Artificial Turf Field) Grants to build soccer fields that are durable and can be used in all weather conditions. Foundation Field Grants also help fund the addition of irrigation systems and turfgrass maintenance equipment that is necessary to keep fields in top shape over time.

Recognizing the lack of space available in many urban areas, the Foundation and our Partners developed a creative solution to build fields that promote small side games and pickup play for youths. These fields, called Mini-Pitches, are typically located in urban communities and provide children with easy access to a safe space to play. The smaller size makes them cost efficient for community programs looking to make an immediate impact.

The Foundation has also partnered with Sport Court to provide Grants to build custom futsal courts. These fields are portable and serve as a model for affordable urban field design.