On Wednesday, May 31, the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) joined with Nike Executives, the Boys & Girls Club and Councilmember Traci Park of Los Angeles Council District 11 to celebrate the unveiling of a new outdoor turf soccer field in the heart of Mar Vista Gardens housing community to provide more access to sport for residents. The ribbon cutting was followed by a free soccer clinic, made available to children from the Boys & Girls Club.
"We know that the youth in this area play a critical role in shaping the future of sport in this City and in the world,” said Franky Arechiga, Boys and Girls Club Branch Director for Santa Monica/Mar Vista Gardens. “It is our sincere hope that by delivering on an equitable and inclusive field of play for our kids, we will not only serve the future of athletes, but inspire movement, health and get families moving.”
“At the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles, we are deeply committed to improving the quality of life of our residents with a focus on people, place, and pathways to opportunity,” said Jonathan Nguyen, Assistant Director of Housing Management at HACLA. “We’re so grateful to Nike for this partnership and for their commitment to providing these pathways through equitable access to sport in communities that are often overlooked.”
"This field represents more than just a space for sports—it's a platform for our young people to engage with and become enthusiastic about athletics, particularly with major events like the Olympics on the horizon,” said Councilwoman Traci Park. “It’s also a place to inspire children to dream big and open opportunities for them. "