On Tuesday, August 23, the city’s newest outdoor futsal court was unveiled during a ribbon cutting on the campus of Arsenal Technical High School. Tech Principal Julie Bakehorn had the honor of cutting the ribbon during the dedication ceremony.

The court was made possible thanks to an Add More Play in Your Day program grant from Mondelez International, the Kroger Family of Stores and the U.S. Soccer Foundation. The grant from these companies, with additional support from Indiana Soccer and the Indy Eleven Foundation, was awarded to Arsenal Tech, enabling the organizations to install the 7,200-square-foot court.

Although located on Tech’s campus, the futsal court is for the community.

“In Indianapolis and across the country, children face an acute shortage of safe places to play largely because there isn’t enough space to create them or funding to maintain them,” said Ed Foster-Simeon, President & CEO, U.S. Soccer Foundation. “We are thrilled to provide a quality playing surface for kids that will not only transform children’s lives, but also the look and feel of their neighborhood.”

Indy Eleven Soccer Foundation Chairman Ersal Ozdemir said the Arsenal Tech Futsal Court project is an example of what can happen when community partners come together to make a real difference.

“This court will be the first of many Indy Eleven Soccer Foundation will look to help build across the State of Indiana, and we would like to thank the U.S. Soccer Foundation, Indiana Soccer, Indiana Futsal, Kroger and Mondelez International for their help in making it happen,” added Ozdemir.