NYCFC, UAE embassy, Groundswell celebrate new soccer field and mural at P.S. 24 in Sunset Park
It’s been a busy summer for soccer between the U.S. hosting the Copa America and the Euros taking place across the pond in France.
On Tuesday, Sunset Park got its own dose of the sport as students, parents, community members and elected officials came together with professional soccer club New York City FC (NYCFC), representatives from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and members of the nonprofit organization Groundswell to celebrate a new state-of-the-art soccer field and student-designed mural at P.S. 24.
The soccer field, which is appropriately dyed light blue for NYCFC’s colors, was donated by the UAE Embassy as part of its mission to help restore communities in New York and New Jersey that were negatively impacted by Hurricane Sandy.
The UAE pledged $10 million for recovery efforts to provide assistance to public schools, reconstruction work and to fund the construction of all-weather playing fields, like the one at P.S. 24.