Austin FC’s nonprofit arm 4ATX Foundation, alongside Soccer Assist, U.S. Soccer Foundation, St. David’s Foundation and the City of Taylor unveiled on Saturday, June 10, a new soccer mini-pitch at Murphy Park in Taylor, Texas. The organizations teamed up to transform an underutilized space at the park into a state-of-the-art soccer mini-pitch, which was designed pro bono by The Butler Bros.
“We’re delighted to have played a part in bringing another mini-pitch to a Central Texas community,” said 4ATX Foundation Executive Director Kaitlin Mauro. “We’ve seen our other mini-pitches quickly become amazing spaces for families to gather and enjoy playing soccer together, and we’re grateful to our partners for helping create our first in Taylor.”
The Murphy Park mini-pitch marks the seventh mini-pitch in Central Texas which 4ATX Foundation has helped install in collaboration with U.S. Soccer Foundation.Â
To celebrate the opening of the mini-pitch, the organizations hosted an event for young players to play there for the first time, featuring food, music, and a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
“What an honor it has been to help launch this latest court in beautiful Murphy Park. Taylor is a unique, diverse, soccer-hungry community - so deserving of this innovative recreational, community asset” said Soccer Assist Founder Aaron Rochlen, Ph.D.
“St David’s Foundation is excited to partner with the City of Taylor, Soccer Assist, 4ATX and the multiple, innovative partners who believe in the power of sports to create play equity. Soccer has the ability to connect us across cultural divides, socio-economic status and geography, while also being a catalyst for physical activity and improved mental health through access to green spaces,” said Abena Asante, Senior Program Officer with St. David’s Foundation. “We are thrilled to see the soccer mini-pitch in Murphy Park come to life and, importantly, for kids and families to embrace social connection, physical activity and have fun.”
The Murphy Park mini-pitch is the 600th mini-pitch that U.S. Soccer Foundation has installed across the nation, with the goal of installing 1,000 by 2026. The mini-pitch initiative is part of their national movement to ensure children in underserved communities can enjoy the health and youth development benefits of the game.Â
“We couldn’t be prouder to celebrate the opening of this new mini-pitch at Murphy Park – our 600th nationwide – with 4ATX Foundation, Soccer Assist, and St. David’s Foundation,” said Ed Foster-Simeon, President & CEO of the U.S. Soccer Foundation. “They have shown that continued investment in the health and well-being of the communities can be a powerful thing.”
The Murphy Park mini-pitch marks the seventh mini-pitch in Central Texas which 4ATX Foundation has helped install in collaboration with U.S. Soccer Foundation, joining the Jardin de los Heroes Park mini-pitch opened in Uvalde in December 2022, the Northeast Early College High School mini-pitch opened in north Austin in September 2022, the Bastrop Middle School mini-pitch opened in Bastrop in April 2022, the Civitan Neighborhood Park mini-pitch opened in southeast Austin in December 2021, the Wooldridge Park mini-pitch opened in north Austin in October 2020, and the Dove Springs Recreation Center futsal court opened in southeast Austin in November 2019.
“The City Parks and Recreation Department is excited to have the mini-pitch addition to Murphy Park. A project like this has definitely been needed in our parks system, “said Tyler Bybee, Taylor Parks and Recreation Director. “We want to thank St. David’s Foundation, 4ATX, Soccer Assist, and the U.S. Soccer Foundation for bringing this awesome project to Taylor.”
To see a map of all of the mini-pitches in Central Texas which 4ATX Foundation has helped install in collaboration with U.S. Soccer Foundation and other partners, visit www.austinfc.com/minipitches. To see where U.S. Soccer Foundation has installed mini-pitches across the United States, visit www.ussoccerfoundation.org/map/.
