U.S. Soccer Foundation donates mini-pitch fields to Cleveland rec centers in Central and Jefferson

Two city-owned recreation centers in Cleveland will soon be home to mini-pitch soccer fields thanks to a donation from the U.S. Soccer Foundation. Cleveland City Council approved the donation at its regular council meeting on Monday, April 3. The fields, which are expected to be open by mid-summer, will be installed at the Lonnie Burten Recreation Center in Central and the Halloran Recreation Center in Jefferson. 

The mini-pitch fields are modular outdoor soccer courts that were developed by the U.S. Soccer Foundation and Musco Lighting. According to the soccer foundation’s website, the mini-pitches “provide an innovative solution for communities where space is at a premium. These small, customized, hard-court surfaces are perfectly suited for organized soccer and pick-up games. Complete with lighting, fencing, goals, benches, and more, mini-pitches provide a quality playing surface for kids and adults.”

Presumably, the fields will also prove perfect for Cleveland’s chilly, wet climate, where outdoor fields can sometimes be muddy and soaked in the fall and spring months. The mini-pitches may also be attractive to kids and adults who like to play on a smaller indoor-style court. Finally, the lighting and fencing could make them attractive for nighttime games. 

“It’s basically indoor soccer but outdoor,” explained Jay Rauschenbach, the city’s parks and recreation manager, at the March 17 meeting of the Cleveland Planning Commission. “They come in these prefabricated systems … and they can install them onsite in a couple of days. It’s a really unique, efficient system.” 

Rauschenbach explained that the donation came about after the city received a cold call from the U.S. Soccer Foundation. Through its Safe Places to Play program, the foundation has a goal of donating 1,000 mini-pitch fields across the U.S. Currently, there are soccer mini-pitches in various U.S. cities, including Atlanta and Houston. 

According to the soccer foundation’s website, after the creation of mini-pitches, 98% of survey respondents say that people in their community are more active, 98% say that their community is safer, and 93% say that the mini-pitches serve as a community gathering space. The website offers an interactive map where users can find mini-pitches near where they live. 

Mini-pitches are constructed on a concrete/asphalt surface that is typically 5,000-7,200 square feet or 100-120 feet long and 50-60 feet wide, according to the soccer foundation. The surfaces need to be free of obstructions and debris with no construction planned for 6-8 years. They also need to be accessible for year-round use by the public and programming planned by the soccer foundation and its partners. No details regarding Cleveland programming are available yet.

After receiving the cold call, Rauschenbach worked with the Division of Recreation to find sites that would serve several underserved communities. They identified two spaces at city recreation centers on the east and west sides. The soccer mini-pitches will be built atop tennis courts that are not used regularly or are in poor condition. In the case of Lonnie Burten, Rauschenbach said the poles and nets were stolen several years ago and have not been replaced. 

In order to install the two mini-pitches, a two-inch asphalt overlay needs to be built on top of the court. The city’s public works department will complete the work, Rauschenbach said. 

In order to move ahead with the donation, the city had to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the U.S. Soccer Foundation and Musco Lighting to include their branding and signage. Now that the city council has approved the donation, the project is ready to roll. If all goes as planned, the fields should open in July, Rauschenbach said. 

For more information about the U.S. Soccer Foundation’s mini-pitches, visit Safe Places to Play Mini-Pitches – U.S. Soccer Foundation (ussoccerfoundation.org). You can watch planning commission meetings on YouTube. To send questions, comments, and feedback to the Cleveland City Planning Commission, email cityplanning@clevelandohio.gov or call 216-664-2210. 

Editor’s note: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that Halloran Recreation Center is in the Cudell neighborhood. It is located in the Jefferson neighborhood of Cleveland.