OTHELLO – Othello’s sports fans have a new amenity to enjoy. The city officially opened the new futsal court at Kiwanis Park with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and youth scrimmages on Tuesday morning. Young soccer players, coaches, and city officials gathered for the event.
Planning for the project began in 2019, according to Mayor Shawn Logan, with construction completed in 2024. It was part of a larger project to improve walking paths and the restrooms on the north side of the park. A youth athletic facility grant from the state helped cover the cost.
In his remarks to the crowd, Logan said that the road to a futsal facility started early in his tenure as mayor when he wanted to build a splash pad. The city applied for, but was not given, a grant to accomplish that goal. “I wanted nice things for our town, I wanted nice things for our kids and our families. So I made a trip over to Olympia…and I asked How can we get competitive in our grant applications?” he said. Armed with tips for how to make Othello more attractive to granters, Logan returned to Othello to get to work.
“We began to develop our narrative and our story. And my story today is they cared about you. I’m so grateful to all of the staff, all of the public works department, all of the people from the parks and recreation department, and the rest of the city staff,” Logan said. “This is a lasting treasure that will benefit our city.”
Valerie Hernandez, Director of Parks and Recreation, said the project “has truly been a labor of love, teamwork, and dedication to our community, this takes years to get done.” She added, “The City of Othello gets to celebrate and have a good time.”
Hernandez also thanked the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office; “Their support continues to help us bring more recreational opportunities to the people of Othello. We are so grateful to have their partnership,” she said.
Addressing players and coaches, Hernandez said, “we hope this place is where you build skills, confidence, friendships, and have a whole lot of fun doing it.”
After the ribbon-cutting ceremony, the boys’ and girls’ youth teams participated in short scrimmages. Othello High School soccer players held a co-ed exhibition match under the guidance of their coaches. Bernie Garza, Othello High School’s head boys soccer coach, said, “it’s good for the youth to be able to have this available to them.” He said it can help players develop skills, particularly in their short game and ball control.
Futsal is a face-paced game similar to soccer, that is played on a hard court. Teams usually field five players at a time.
The court surface is a plastic-type material, which allows for water drainage and traction. Metal fencing and benches line the side of the court, and a chain-link fence helps keep the ball inside and potential vandals out.
The futsal court will be open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis during the park’s regular hours. It may be reserved for private events through the Parks and Recreation office. Hernandez said the cost to reserve the court is approximately $30. The court may not be reserved on Sundays, as the city hopes to keep it available for family use.
