Ahead of this year’s FIFA Men’s World Cup, 2 new mini-pitches were unveiled at Pulaski Park in the City of Poughkeepsie on October 12th at 3:30 p.m. The mini-pitches honor USMNT star soccer player Tyler Adams and were made possible thanks to his personal contribution and contributions from the U.S. Soccer Foundation, Target, the City of Poughkeepsie, and Dutchess County. 

Representatives from Tyler’s family, the U.S. Soccer Foundation, the City of Poughkeepsie, and Dutchess County hosted the ribbon cutting ceremony with a video message from Tyler Adams, followed by scrimmages on the pitches with youth from the Poughkeepsie City School District’s soccer teams. 

“Building two new mini-pitches in Pulaski Park is such a unique way to give back to the game and to the community where I first started,” said Tyler Adams. “Through these pitches, more children in Poughkeepsie can learn values that they will take with them well beyond their playing careers – the same values that I learned through my support system. Thanks to my family’s support and to all partners involved in this amazing process and creating an environment where kids can blossom.”

According to Dutchess County, this project builds on more than 100 mini-pitches the U.S. Soccer Foundation and Target have installed together since 2018 and marks the latest development in the U.S. Soccer Foundation’s It’s Everyone’s Game national movement to ensure children in underserved communities can enjoy the health and youth development benefits of the game. To date, the U.S. Soccer Foundation has installed more than 500 mini-pitches nationwide. The goal is to install 1,000 by 2026. 

City of Poughkeepsie Mayor Rob Rolison said, “We are pleased to see the opening of the mini-pitches, a collaborative project that went from concept to completion within a matter of months. We thank our partners the U.S. Soccer Foundation and Dutchess County for their financial and staff support to help see this project to fruition. The mini-pitches are part of a much broader, multimillion dollar initiative by the city to make upgrades to the park system, and it’s fulfilling to see these projects getting completed for our residents to enjoy.”

About The U.S. Soccer Foundation

The U.S. Soccer Foundation’s programs are the national model for sports-based youth development in underserved communities. Since its founding in 1994, the Foundation has established programs proven to help children embrace an active and healthy lifestyle while nurturing their personal growth beyond sports. Its cost-effective, high-impact initiatives offer safe environments where kids and communities thrive. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the U.S. Soccer Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization. For more information, visit ussoccerfoundation.org or follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Read the full press release at Dutchess County’s website for more details.