Harlingen’s New Soccer Complex Will Provide 14 New Fields
arroyo youth soccer club, fields, harlingen, harlingen soccer, loop 499, recreation, soccer, state-of-the-art,
Soccer is huge in Harlingen.
The community’s recent efforts to build a new soccer complex have grown the size of its facilities to match that of the sport’s enormous popularity here.
Situated on an 80-acre site that is about one mile east of Loop 499, this new complex includes 10 soccer fields, 650 parking spaces, a concessions building, restrooms, shade pavilions and two small ponds. After completing this $5.2 million project, the city plans to build a second phase, which will increase parking capacity and add four more fields.
This development is a dream come true for soccer enthusiasts who have talked for years about building new facilities. Tony Gorman, president of the 1,250-member Arroyo Youth Soccer Club in Harlingen, says the club’s 140 teams previously were limited to sharing public facilities with other sports and citizens year round. Because of that, the city’s ability to maintain the fields was severely limited. Meanwhile, the number of children participating in soccer steadily increased, causing the club to outgrow existing facilities.
“This translated into much-less-than-ideal playing conditions for players,” Gorman says. “Despite this, somehow we have managed to produce several state champions over the years, a tribute to the talent and devotion of coaches, parents and players.”
Now Gorman, who works as executive vice president and director of human resources at Texas State Bank, and his soccer-playing sons Zachary, 17, and Grant, 14, can enjoy a state-of-the-art soccer complex that will “put Harlingen on the soccer map around the state in capital letters,” Gorman says.
Jeff Lyssy, director of parks and recreation for the City of Harlingen, says all of the work on the project is expected to be completed in time for the park to host its first major tournament over the Labor Day weekend in 2008.
“In the past, a major tournament would draw over 100 teams, but it was difficult with fields located in different parts of the city,” Lyssy says. “We’re looking forward to having this tournament complex for our local use and for drawing in tournaments and other teams to hopefully boost the economy. That’s a great impact on our economy, with hotel and restaurant use and sales-tax revenue.”
The new soccer complex also translates into more opportunities for youngsters to earn college scholarships, Gorman says.
“More children will play soccer, and I believe the numbers of players will dramatically increase in the next few years,” he says. “This ultimately will mean better soccer programs in our middle schools and high schools. Many colleges and universities have already realized the Valley is a hotbed for soccer talent, and their recruiting efforts are already increasing.”
Story by Paige Clancy
Photo by Staff
