Courtesy: Oregon Live/The Oregonian


Hacienda CDC futsal court groundbreaking held in N.E. Portland

Thursday, June 28, 2012

by Larry Bingham

Timbers owner Merritt Paulson and City Commissioner Nick Fish joined officials from Hacienda CDC, Adidas and Verde to break ground Thursday on a $300,000 covered futsal court to be built near the intersection of N.E. Cully Blvd. and Killingsworth St.

The court, which is being paid for through individual and corporate donations, will bring to a park-deprived area of the city a state-of-the-art facility. Northeast Portland children, who have been playing in the Hacienda parking lot, will be able to play safely indoors once the court is built.

The facility will be constructed on the grounds of Hacienda CDC's Ortiz Community Center. The project is currently in the permitting phase. Construction is expected to begin in July and be finished by the end of August.

Before presenting the project with a check for $25,000, Director of Soccer for Adidas, Antonio Zea, recalled meeting with Hacienda representatives at the site 18 months ago.

Commissioner Fish thanked the partners for not giving up hope and he lauded the project for providing city kids with a safe place to play.

Verde Executive Director Alan Hipolito said his nonprofit group, which will oversee the eco roof on the facility, aims to hire Cully area workers and educate futsal players and their families about the eco roof and its environmental benefits.

"I can't wait to see this court get used," Paulson said. "And hopefully, we are going to be signing a few good players from Hacienda down the road."




Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com