The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department is preparing to transform Fulton Street between the Asian Art Museum and Main Library into a temporary street soccer installation that will serve the diverse community of the Civic Center area.
Two modular turf fields provided by Street Soccer USA are currently being installed. The facility’s opening day will take place Sunday, July 7, coinciding with Rec and Parks’ World Cup Finals viewing party beginning at 8 a.m. at Civic Center Plaza, as well as the Civic Center Commons’ 1st Sunday Block Party from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., a
family-friendly event featuring free soccer programming on the new fields, street food curated by Off the Grid, a craft market, and DIY activities. The soccer installation will remain up until the end of August and will include youth programs, youth and adult “drop-in” play and adult leagues. A full schedule can be found here.
“The Civic Center is the City’s cultural and political heart, but it’s also earning a reputation as its recreational hub,” said San Francisco Recreation and Park General Manager Phil Ginsburg. “With the addition of the fields, soccer fans can watch the excitement on the big screen and let it inspire them to play the game nearby.”
The fields will be bustling every day from morning until 9 p.m. with programming from Street Soccer USA and America Scores. Street Soccer USA empowers low income and homeless youth and adults through soccer, helping to build a social safety net and transferrable life skills. America Scores delivers transformational and spirited after-school enrichment programs focused on whole child health.
“Street Soccer USA is excited to partner with so many city agencies, led by the Parks Department, to install two street soccer courts at Civic Center so the community can come together to raise our game,” said Street Soccer USA Co-Founder and Director Rob Cann. “Raising our game means making soccer more accessible and more impactful for everyone, and it means raising the game of our youth by using sport to develop their character and teamwork skills, which are proven indicators long term success in life. The fields will give our street league a home for the summer and create a unique opportunity for people of all backgrounds and ages to come together and enjoy soccer in the heart of San Francisco.”
The project is a collaborative effort between multiple city agencies: Rec and Parks, Planning, Public Works, the Municipal Transportation Agency, and the Office of Economic and Workforce Development, as well as the Asian Art Museum and the Library. The new turf fields are the latest project undertaken as part of a comprehensive effort to make Civic Center’s public spaces safe, welcoming and fun for both residents and visitors.
More information can be found here.