Summary:
The Orlando Community & Youth Trust, Inc., a non-profit organization whose purpose is to raise and administer philanthropic and grant support for the City's Families, Parks & Recreation Department, has received a Safe Places to Play Grant grant from the U.S. Soccer Foundation to cover the full cost of converting one (1) City tennis court into a hard court soccer pitch. A rendering of the proposed soccer court is attached.
A staff analysis of City tennis courts has determined that, due to low utilization, conversion of one (1) of the three (3) tennis courts at the John H. Jackson Community Center will have no deleterious effect on access to tennis facilities in the city. Therefore, staff have recommended this court be converted into a hard court soccer pitch.
If approved, this project will become the City's first hard court soccer pitch, responding to growing demand for this type of facility in Orlando. Not only will the facility serve Orlando's soccer community but, in partnership with the Orlando City Soccer Foundation, children who attend the City's John H. Jackson Community Center and other after school and summer programs in Parramore will receive free soccer training at the site.
By approving this agenda item, City Council grants permission to the Orlando Community & Youth Trust to convert one (1) of the three (3) tennis courts at the John H. Jackson Community Center into a hard court soccer pitch, at no cost to the City. City staff will provide oversight of the project to ensure it conforms with City requirements. |