New Soccer Turf Opens In Manhattan With A Big Goal

EAST HARLEM, NY — A new soccer field opened in East Harlem this week with a big goal: to give local kids a welcoming and affordable place to play, learn and connect.

The new Visa Street Soccer Park on East 119th Street at the corner of Lexington Avenue features two professional-grade turf fields, as well as a financial education learning center, and flexible indoor space for community events.

The field is a partnership between Street Soccer USA, Visa, and Bank of America. The trio plan to open several other similar parks nationwide, organizers said. Next, the team will be opening fields in Tennessee and Georgia.

The programs at the field will be run by Street Soccer USA, a nonprofit organization that uses soccer as a tool for social change.

The nonprofit runs free and low-cost programs in communities across the U.S., focusing on youth development, education, and community building, according to its website.

Organizers say the East Harlem site is designed to be more than just a sports facility.

"These parks are spaces where New York City youth can build essential life skills, connect with their peers and community, and achieve their goals on and off the soccer pitch," Fernando Nuñez, a consumer banking executive at Bank of America, said.

To learn about ongoing soccer programs, click here.

The new field is located at 116 East 119th St., New York, NY 10035.

For questions and tips, email Miranda.Levingston@Patch.com.