Escondido families have a beautiful new place to play! San Diego FC, the YMCA of San Diego County and DIRECTV have officially dedicated a newly enhanced soccer arena at the YMCA Escondido Campus, giving local youth a safe, vibrant space to learn, compete and fall in love with the game.
The dedication ceremony brought together community leaders, SDFC players Christopher McVey, Manu Duah and Bryan Zamblé, and dozens of excited kids and families. Instead of a traditional ribbon cutting, the organizations celebrated with a ceremonial “First Goal” — a fitting kickoff for a space built around the beautiful game — followed by a community party with youth activities, partner booths, food and a free soccer clinic.
The arena is the third project completed under SDFC’s Parks & Pitches initiative, which transforms courts and fields in public parks into colorful, art-filled play spaces designed with the community. It follows revitalized courts at Colina Del Sol in City Heights and the Willie Henderson Sports Complex, each one co-created with local artists, youth and neighbors.
For young players like Diego Haro, who has played at the YMCA for four years even when the field was falling apart, the new arena is a dream come true — proof that when a community and its teams play together, everybody wins.
Photo: San Diego FC
