Hoboken’s 14th Street Viaduct now sports a new soccer-themed addition that will be given a proper grand opening this afternoon, an event that will have local dignitaries on hand, plus several members of the New York Red Bulls.
The new mini-pitch court is located at the intersection of 14th and Adams Streets underneath the Viaduct, an elevated bridge connecting Hoboken to Union City that has several recreational spaces underneath the roadway. The new pitch is designed to be used for smaller pickup games and at 3:00 today, the New York Red Bulls and the U.S. Soccer Foundation will unveil the new digs with a ceremonial “first kick.” The event will bring out several Red Bulls executives and players, including Defender Aurélien Collin.
After the official dedication, the executives and players will play the first match on the pitch, followed by a second match between Hoboken’s youth soccer players. Red Bulls players will serve as celebrity coaches during the kid’s match.
The space was paid for by a grant that the Red Bulls and the U.S. Soccer Foundation gave to the city earlier this year. The U.S. Soccer Foundation says that the new pitch shows their “commitment to offer children in underserved communities a safe place to play, while providing a soccer environment that encourages unstructured play within local communities, supporting continued growth of the game.”
The mini-pitch space was built out over the last month, with construction starting in late July. The active open space enhancement will join other existing spots underneath the Viaduct that include pedestrian plazas, basketball courts, a dog run and a children’s play area.
Today’s event will be open to the public and is being sponsored by Hackensack University Medical Center. Stop by to see the latest amenity of Hoboken’s evolving 14th Street Viaduct.
[gmap height=”250px”]450 14th St, Hoboken, NJ 07030[/gmap]
450 14th St, Hoboken, NJ 07030
