Portland Timbers Fans Bring Soccer and Futsal Fields to Recreation Deserts

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Operation Pitch Invasion (OPI) wanted to build and repair soccer fields in recreation deserts in Portland.  They began by gathering volunteers and supplies to fill holes, fix goals, paint goal posts, repaint lines and repair irrigation systems.

Soccer is the most popular sport among Latinos.

In 2014, through a coalition of grants, corporate sponsors and individual donations, OPI opened Bless Field, a 9,000 square foot artificial turf soccer field, in a neighborhood of nearly 1,200 kids from 22 countries that speak 11 different languages.  Soccer may be considered a niche sport in America, but Shawn Levy of OPI said, “Not one parent of children from 22 countries doesn’t recognize soccer as a healthy activity.  They grew up playing it wherever they grew up.”

Because 6 year-olds don’t need a 100×60 yard field, OPI also does smaller scale projects of turning abandoned pieces of asphalt into futsal fields adjacent to schools, parks or community centers.  Futsal fields provide an excellent designated active space for kids who grew up playing with a ball at their foot.

In 2015, OPI partnered with the Portland Timbers  in a field building collaboration called “Fields for All.”  Through this partnership they have built and will dedicate a new futsal field at Vance Park in Gresham (18.9% Latino) on September 22nd.  Gresham resident Ricki Ruiz called attention to the need for recreation facilities in his neighborhood because, for years, kids climbed a fence to an abandoned roller rink and used their backpacks and sweatshirts as makeshift goals in order to play futsal.

According to the Washington Post, “Club soccer dominates in the U.S., and this is an expensive and almost impossible barrier for Latinos due to the costs and suburban nature of the programs.”  The cultural impact of providing kids with soccer and futsal fields could have increase their participation in physical activity and have lifelong health benefits.

Learn more about OPI projects to reduce recreation deserts.