The City of Evansville and project partners held a groundbreaking ceremony to kick off another recreational project Monday Morning — new futsol courts in Stockwell Park.
Futsol is a game similar to soccer but played on a hard court surface instead of a field.
The local Latino Community, including the Latino Soccer League in Evansville have been advocating for futsol courts, and Steve Schaefer with the City of Evansville said this project is long overdue.
He said the courts will appear similar to basketball courts,
“…but with soccer lines,” he said. “It will have soccer goals, fencing. So it'll be a nice addition.”
There are currently uneven and broken asphalt courts which will be broken up and replaced.
Latino Soccer League President Abraham Brown said he expects at least 250 individuals to use the courts. They already use Stockwell Park for soccer games every Sunday.
“Futsol is one of the fastest growing sports worldwide,” he said. “And with the opportunity to have an actual professional size futsol court, it's not just going to bring the Latino community together but the full community to have an opportunity to play football here in Evansville.”
The courts are expected to be complete by May of 2024.
Brown said this project further illustrates the city’s embracing of the Latino Community.
“This is to prove that the city is really for everyone,” he said. “And with this project, it really wants to show that they are welcoming to the Latino community— the needs of the Latino community, and also the needs of the soccer-playing families and soccer-playing individuals in the city.”
The project will cost about $400,000 in city funds, private donations and donations from non-profits such as the Welborn Baptist Foundation and 911 Gives Hope.
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