U.S. Soccer Star Cobi Jones And Olympian Tamara Christopherson Among Leaders To Dedicate World-Class Public Soccer Fields For LA Youth

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 30, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The first phase of a major renovation to the 26-acre Ferraro Fields soccer complex at Griffith Park will be unveiled by former U.S. Soccer National team star and Hall of Famer Cobi Jones, Olympian and President of Southern California Olympians & Paralympians Tamara Christopherson, LA84 President and International Olympic Committee Member Anita DeFrantz, and dozens of youth soccer players from the LA area. The first four fields are dedicated exclusively to youth soccer, and feature long-lasting synthetic turf that will save 9.5 million gallons of water annually. An estimated 171,000 youth will use the soccer fields year-round – an increase from just 7,500 before the project was completed. The second and final phase restoration effort will feature an additional three adult regulation-size fields.  

The $10.5 million restoration effort is a private-public partnership spearheaded by the LA Parks Foundation, the LA84 Foundation and the City Department of Recreation and Parks. The next steps in renovation call for updated lighting, a fitness trail, play area, pathways and improved parking – all designed to expand capacity for LA residents to use the city's largest soccer facility year-round, and for extended evening hours.

SOURCE LA84 Foundation