A rundown stretch of grass next to Highway 50 is getting a makeover in a move that could help some people who just need a place of their own.
O’Neil Park on Broadway is slated to become the hub of Street Soccer USA in Sacramento, following a $190,000 grant from Union Pacific and $34,000 from the city of Sacramento. The money will go to build two short soccer fields for use by neighborhood kids and people struggling with addictions and won’t be used for typical pay-to-play youth and adult leagues.
The field will be used by Street Soccer USA, which has a presence in the city that can be traced back for years. The city hosted the league’s annual National Cup for the past two years and profits from the event will go toward the launch of the new field.
“The kids that are here from Leataata Floyd Elementary and the neighborhood are some of the best kids you’ll ever meet, and one of our main jobs as public officials is to help give them the opportunity and resources that they need to succeed,” said council member Steve Hansen.
The nonprofit also aims to combat social issues such as mental illness, homelessness and substance abuse through sports, with opportunities for players of all skill levels and backgrounds.
Lisa Wrightsman, SSUSA Sacramento’s managing director, said the game has given her a feeling of belonging that hasn’t been easy.
“It was the first time I experienced feeling accepted and happy while sober. And it was in a setting where the soccer was not very good, but it was very high-spirited. And I came from playing competitively in college, so my understanding was that when you’re the best soccer player, you get the best out of it,” Wrightsman said.
“These people were terrible, but they felt really empowered by it. They felt like they were a part of something.”
Wrightsman said that the services provided by the program provided a sense of community as well as channels to employment.
Chris Zaccaria experienced homelessness for nearly a decade before becoming involved in SSUSA, which sent her to Brazil to compete in the league’s National Cup. Zaccaria is now a SSUSA coach.
“I found out through a friend of mine who was involved, I came out to one of the practices and fell in love with it. It was amazing and I couldn’t wait until the next time,” Zaccaria said.
“I love this program. It’s given me a sense of self-worth, leadership and accountability. I played in 2012, 13, 14, 15 and in 16 I became a coach.”
According to Wrightsman, the field will be completed in late May or early June, with a groundbreaking tentatively scheduled for April.
Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinbergcited SSUSA as another step toward, ”creating a safe and enriching environment for young people,” in stride with Measure U, a one-cent sales tax that passed in November 2018 geared toward parts of the city that need reinvestment.
“The values of of our city speak loud and clear too, and that’s the way we’re trying to run the city. It’s not perfect, but there are more victories everyday,” Steinberg said. “Two nights ago, it was approving a $100 million affordable housing bond, today it’s through soccer.”
This story was originally published January 31, 2020 12:27 PM.
