SANTA ANA, Calif. – Youth soccer players were joined by professional footballers on Wednesday, March 16, to try out a new soccer mini-pitch that was unveiled during a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Delhi Park.
The hard-surface mini-pitch was made possible through a partnership between The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation, the U.S. Soccer Foundation, the Orange County Soccer Club (OCSC), and the City of Santa Ana. City officials, representatives from the partner organizations, community members, and OCSC players Michael Orozco and Erick “El Cubo” Torres joined in the opening celebration.
The project was made possible through funding from the U.S. Soccer Foundation and The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation as part of the United for Girls initiative. The City of Santa Ana allocated $120,000 in acquisition and development funds.
The Orange County Soccer Club will provide free soccer clinics for girls and boys, youth camps, and other activities at the mini-pitch.
“The mini-pitch at Delhi Park is one of 15 that we are installing across the country by the end of 2022 in partnership with the U.S. Soccer Foundation,” said Aimee Watters, Executive Director, The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation. “We are motivated every day to support young athletes and are delighted to bring this mini-pitch to Santa Ana.”
“We are thrilled to open this mini-pitch at Delhi Park with our partners at The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation, the City of Santa Ana, and Orange County Soccer Club,” said Sarah Pickens, Associate Vice President of Programs at the U.S. Soccer Foundation. “This new mini-pitch will provide easier access to play and enable more girls and boys to join a team and gain all the lifelong benefits that come with playing our game.”
“We are honored to join with our partners in the grand opening of the incredible Delhi Park Mini-Pitch. OCSC along with the OCSC Community Foundation are committed to enriching the lives of our fans in Orange County providing health and wellness opportunities through our beautiful game,” said Jeff Garner, President of Business Relations. “We’ll be providing monthly clinics, camps, tournaments and special event programming as we expand our pathway to professional soccer footprint in Santa Ana.”
Delhi Park is located at 2314 S. Halladay St., at the corner of Warner Avenue. For more information about OCSC soccer clinics at the mini-pitch, visit https://www.orangecountysoccer.com/mini-pitch.
