In November of 2012, Orlando City Soccer Club (OCSC), in conjunction with Orlando City Soccer Foundation (OCSF), ran their first free soccer clinic at the New Image Youth Center on Parramore in downtown Orlando. A host of OCYS directors, along with Pro Defender Justin Clark, ran the clinics- teaching the children the basics of the beautiful game and some tips on healthy lifestyles.
At the end of the day, the Center was left with brand new indestructible soccer balls for years of use without worry of going flat. After receiving feedback of stories of how those contributions of soccer balls, shirts and jerseys made an impact on the lives of these children; a concern was brought to our attention that there wasn’t a soccer field or facility to safely use the equipment. Therefore, we have decided to do it again but in a much bigger way.
Throughout the past few months, by coordinating with City of Orlando Families, Parks and Recreation as well as Parramore Kids Zone (PKZ), Orlando City Soccer Foundation representatives have begun a journey towards creating a soccer complex for the children of Parramore.Through continuous communication via email and meetings between OCSF members and Orlando Families, the field options had been narrowed to four previously developed, but in need of refurbishing parks in the downtown area of Orlando. After visiting each park to get a better idea of the field conditions and surrounding environment a field location was chosen, Grand Avenue Park.
Grand Avenue Park is a popular haven for the youth of Parramore, located off of Parramore Avenue next to Grand Avenue Elementary School. Although a major renovation was completed in February of 2000 to create play areas and clean up the field space, the fields are in need of soccer specific equipment and structuring. The facility provides open space, picnic area with grills, ball fields, a playground with an additional tot lot and a parking lot for the park as well as the neighboring elementary school. Grand Avenue Park has a large open space that is highlighted with beautiful old pecan trees towards the north of the space we are looking to reconstruct into soccer fields (in picture above this space is currently the baseball fields).
Orlando City Soccer Foundation hopes to team up with the U.S. Soccer Foundation in pursuit of a grant for synthetic turf to be used at this facility. Representatives of the foundation will be attending a symposium held by the U.S. Soccer Foundation in April to gather ideas and stories from other soccer organizations across the country that have successfully completed similar projects.
No one should underestimate the power that soccer can play in this world. It is an international sport that crosses boundaries and touches lives all over the world. We hope to get several members within the Orlando Community to collaborate with OCSF on this project, together we have the potential to impact children’s lives for the better. Who knows, one of these kids may be playing right here for your Orlando City Lions one day!
If you’d like to learn more about the Orlando City Soccer Foundation or get involved with this project, be sure to check our Community Tab. OCSF is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and is dedicated to fulfilling the charitable objectives of the Orlando City Soccer Club by providing outreach programs, services and initiatives for individuals and organizations in need.