Richmond does not have enough regulation soccer fields to meet current demand. Hundreds of youth and adult players across the city rely on a single regulation field at MLK Park, resulting in overcrowded schedules, overlapping practices, and unsafe playing conditions.  

This shortage has created ongoing safety concerns, particularly when youth teams and adult leagues are scheduled on the same field. Many alternative locations lack level ground, proper striping, or goals, increasing the risk of injury and limiting consistent access for organized play. Teams end up being forced to fight for time on school district fields with leagues from outside of Richmond, or have to travel outside the city to find appropriate space. 

The need for additional soccer fields has been documented for years. In 2015, the City’s Parks Master Plan identified the need for at least 10 additional soccer fields to meet demand at that time. Since then, only one regulation field has been added, while participation in local leagues has continued to grow.

To begin addressing this long-standing gap, I worked in collaboration with the Parks and Recreation Commission, local stakeholders, Councilmember Claudia Jimenez, and local architect and city consultant Marcia Vallier to identify where new soccer fields could realistically be included in existing city parks. Marcia Vallier’s team completed a study evaluating which Richmond parks could accommodate additional fields, and brought those findings to the City Council. Then during the ARPA allocation process Councilmember Jimenez and I strongly advocated for funding to move the work forward.

Through that process, we successfully allocated $3 million from American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to establish three new soccer fields in Richmond. These new fields will be located at Shields-Reid Park, Wendell Park, and Boorman Park. Shields-Reid Park will include an artificial turf field, allowing for extended use throughout the year and in a wider range of weather conditions. Wendell Park and Boorman Park will use existing natural grass areas that will be improved to meet soccer field regulations, while remaining available as multi-use fields for other field sports.

Construction has already begun at some sites, with work at the remaining locations scheduled to start soon. All three fields are expected to be completed by late spring to summer 2026. Once finished, they will provide much-needed, regulation-quality space for soccer leagues and community use across Richmond.

Shields Reid Park

• Synthetic Turf
• Construction 30% Complete
• Projected Construction Completion = Late Spring/Early Summer 2026

Wendell Park

• Natural Turf
• Construction 5% Complete (Construction preparation complete, breaking ground 1/20/26)
• Projected Construction Completion = Late Spring/Early Summer 2026

Boorman Park

• Natural Turf
• Construction 20% Complete
• Projected Construction Completion = Summer 2026

This investment represents an important first step, but it is not the end of the work. I plan to continue advancing additional sites identified in the Vallier study as funding becomes available, while also exploring interim uses of other city-owned land to expand access to safe, playable fields.

I am also listening closely to Richmond’s football community, including the Richmond Steelers, and beginning the work of identifying a dedicated location for football within the city’s parks system. After decades without a dedicated field, this is an issue that deserves focused attention alongside improvements to soccer infrastructure.

I’ve watched kids from across Richmond squeeze onto MLK Park’s single field, weaving around one another just to get a few minutes of practice. I’ve seen adults carve out time after work to join weekend games, catching up with neighbors they might never see otherwise. These new soccer fields will give everyone, kids and adults alike, room to play safely, stay active, and connect with the people around them. They are more than fields; they are spaces where Richmond comes together.