Soccer lovers to build own fields

Modesto CA / Bilingual Weekly
Since early 2010 and ever since starting a children and youth soccer league to help keep young people healthy and trouble-free, parents and soccer lovers from Modesto’s Airport Neighborhood are growing tired of searching for a school or park where to play the sport they love.
So this coming Saturday, December 11, they are going to take on the offer from the City of Modesto, and transform a barren spot within Legion Park —on the northern edge of Legion Park Drive/Santa Cruz Avenue— into soccer fields for the growing neighborhood league.
Organizers plan on getting all possible hands, shovels and other tools —between 9:30 am and 2pm— to help them to grade and mark the future game fields.
The Tuolumne River Trust, among other community organizations, is spearheading this effort that will benefit hundreds of children between 6 and 16 years of age in this, arguably, the poorest section in the city.
Stay-at-home parent and league coordinator Silvestre Marin, 32, says the 100-plus children are divided into 6 thru 12 age players associated to the Boy Scouts of America; and 12 through 16 who play within the Stanislaus Club league.
“This is our first year,” says Marin, whose 8-year old son inspired him to get involved, “up to now we play at the Orville Wright (School), the Hanshaw (Middle School) by the Crows Landing… or wherever they let us play”
More than half of the residents at Modesto’s Airport Neighborhood are Latino.
For more information on this project call the Tuolumne River Trust at (209) 236-0330, e-mail karlha@tuolumne.org, jeff@lifewind.org or call Marin at (209) 521-1972.