LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) – A new football field in the Newburg neighborhood was unveiled on Sunday in honor of members of the Black Women’s Player Collective and the Black Players for Change.
The Petersburg Park mini-field is one of 12 installed as part of a national partnership between BPC, BWPC, the US Soccer Foundation, Musco Lighting and adidas, according to a press release.
At the grand opening, Racing Louisville FC players Addisyn Merrick and Cheyna Matthews were in attendance.
“I’m thrilled to be a part of the mini-court opening in Louisville,” Merrick said. “I think it will be a great space for young people to create their own experience in a safe space.”
Footballer @Cheynalee_ is a forward for Racing Louisville of the National Women’s Soccer League. She says the sport changed her life when she grew up in Georgia and that this mini football field will provide better access to football for black children in low-income communities. pic.twitter.com/HJMQJzqmMZ
– Breon Martin (@BreonMartin) October 17, 2021
The soccer field is located near community centers such as the Boys & Girls Club of Kentuckiana, Newburg Middle School, and Newburg Community Center.
Ed Foster-Simeon, president and CEO of the US Soccer Foundation, said the mini-field is an effort to introduce football to more girls.
“Research shows that black communities are much more likely to lack recreational facilities than those found in white neighborhoods,” Foster-Simeon said. “Black girls face more obstacles in playing football than their white peers. “
“This mini-field will shed an even brighter light on diversifying and increasing accessibility to Louisville’s growing football community,” Mayor Greg Fischer said in a press release.
Related stories:
Copyright 2021 WDRB Media. All rights reserved.
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tronc/F6JQIQ66YNGHVCAYHAZVJ22RXE.jpg)