The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation and U.S. Soccer Foundation Celebrate Grand Opening of New Mini-Pitch at City of College Park’s Richard D. Zupp Park

Mini-pitch is one of 15 the two foundations have installed together through United for Girls partnership

College Park, GA – The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation and the U.S. Soccer Foundation officially unveiled a new mini-pitch at Richard D. Zupp Park on Saturday. This project was made possible through funding from the U.S. Soccer Foundation and The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation as one of 15 mini-pitches the organizations have installed across the country together through United for Girls, an initiative focused on increasing access to girls and women in soccer.

“We are so thankful to everyone that contributed to this project,” said City of College Park Mayor Bianca Motley Broom. “It will help us to continue with building the community we deserve.”

“We are so excited to help bring another mini-pitch to a deserving community,” said Aimee Watters, Executive Director of The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation. “Projects like these really make a difference and help keep young athletes in the game.”

“We’re are thrilled to have been able to work with City of College Park to bring another new mini-pitch to the area,” said Ginny Ehrlich, Chief Revenue Officer for the U.S. Soccer Foundation. “And thanks to the generous support of The DICK’s Sporting Goods Foundation, more girls and boys have a safe place to play soccer right in their neighborhood.”

“I would like to thank both the U.S. Soccer Foundation and The DICK’s Sporting Goods Foundation for the support of the mini-pitch at Richard D. Zupp Park,” said City of College Park Director of Recreation and Cultural Arts Michelle Johnson. “The new pitch is an amazing addition to the park and the community. We are so delighted and thankful for the partnership with the U.S. Soccer Foundation with funding from The DICK’s Sporting Goods Foundation for this project.”

During the event, youth and coaches from local soccer organization Soccer in the Streets helped celebrate the opening of the mini-pitch, participating in the ceremonial first kick and other soccer activities. On a programmatic level, Soccer in the Streets was also one of 21 cohort members of the U.S. Soccer Foundation’s United for Girls initiative who committed to designing and implementing creative approaches to engage girls and women coaches in soccer.

Since the start of the partnership between The DICK’s Sporting Goods Foundation and the U.S. Soccer Foundation, mini-pitches have come to Atlanta, GA; Baltimore, MD; Charlottesville, VA; Chicago, IL; College Park, GA; Homestead, FL; Houston, TX; Kansas City, MO; Lackawanna, NY; Long Beach, CA; Memphis, TN; Phoenix, AZ; Pittsburgh, PA San Jose, CA; and Santa Ana, CA.

This mini-pitch marks the latest development in the U.S. Soccer Foundation’s It’s Everyone’s Game national movement to ensure children in underserved communities can enjoy the health and youth development benefits of the game. To date, the U.S. Soccer Foundation has installed more than 500 mini-pitches nationwide. The goal is to install 1,000 by 2026.

For image selects from the event, please click here.