Street Soccer USA Opens Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund Street Soccer Park in Queens

On June 9, the Illumination Fund joined Street Soccer USA, Gotham FC, UNIQLO, and NYC Public Schools to open the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund Street Soccer Park at M.S. 137 in Ozone Park, Queens.

The new modular soccer field and learning hub will serve nearly 2,000 students at one of Queens’ largest and most diverse middle schools, creating a safe, welcoming space for play, mentorship, educational programming, and year-round community engagement for students and families alike.

The Park helps address a growing need identified in the Aspen Institute’s State of Soccer New York City/ North Jersey report, which highlights the prevalence of “soccer deserts”—communities where demand for the sport vastly outpaces the supply of functional playing spaces, particularly in dense urban areas like the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Newark.

At the Park’s ribbon-cutting ceremony, the Fund’s Senior Program Officer Kira Pritchard discussed the impact of the project on local youth. “Having a safe place to be active, spend time with friends, challenge yourself, and be part of a team helps shape who we become,” said Pritchard. “We believe every child deserves those opportunities, regardless of their zip code or family background.”

That belief is integral to the Fund’s Play to Thrive initiative, which provided catalytic funding for the Park. With the 2026 FIFA World Cup in full swing, investments like this can be transformative in ensuring the tournament is not just enjoyed in the stands or on screens, but inspires real play and impact across the City.

The Fund and Street Soccer USA were joined by M.S. 137 Principal Pamela Trincado, City Council Member Joann Ariola, State Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato, NYC Department of Education Deputy Commissioner Kevin Moran, and Gotham FC’s President of Soccer Operations Yael Averbuch West.

Learn more about the Park in this NBC New York feature.