OTHELLO – On Tuesday, the Othello Parks and Recreation held a ribbon cutting for their new futsal courts at Kiwanis Park. Othello Parks and Recreation Coordinator Valerie Hernandez said the event was special for the Othello community.  

“Today is more than a ribbon cutting. It is a celebration of community collaboration and shared commitment to recreation and youth development,’ she said.  

The futsal court was mainly funded by the Recreation and Conservation Office. Over $200,000 was given by them, according to Mayor Shawn Logan. The opening day of the futsal comes after many years of Logan pursuing funding for this court. He said originally, he wanted to get a splash pad in Othello, but the application for it did not place high enough to get funding.  

Logan said he went to RCO and spoke with Grants Section Manager Marguerite Austin to see what he needed to do for Othello to stand out. Several cities apply for grant funding, so according to Logan, he was told to come up with an answer for a big question: why Othello?  

“I can tell you they cared, and we began to develop our narrative and our story, and their story, and my story to you today is they cared about you,” he said. “They cared about Othello. We convinced them of why, how much fun this was going to be, and the benefits that it was going to bring to Othello, and that's why we're standing here today.” 

According to Logan, RCO funded 75 percent of the project, and the city paid 25 percent. Logan thanked many of the contributors to the project, including Othello Parks and Recreation, the Public Works Department and RCO staff.  

“I'm just grateful that we get to cut the ribbon today, and you guys are all going to benefit. Your kids are going to benefit. Your grandkids are going to benefit, and this is a lasting treasure to benefit this city. Soccer is the sport of Othello, in addition to these other sports, and we want to make it fun for the kids,” Logan said.  

After Logan concluded his speech, Hernandez returned to the podium to thank the community and cut the actual ribbon. She said she hopes this new court is where young soccer players build skills, confidence and friendships.  

According to Hernandez, the court will be available to the public on a first-come, first-served basis. However, community members may reserve the court for personal events. This is something Huskies soccer head coach Bernie Garza said he hopes to take advantage of. He said the court could provide a good opportunity to host community soccer events for fundraising and bringing people together.  

Once Logan and Public Works Director Robin Adolphsen cut the red ribbon, soccer players took to the court for the first time in a series of exhibition matches. They started with the Othello Basin Sounders girls soccer. That was followed by 11U boys soccer and then Othello High School boys and girls soccer played against each other.  

The games had two five-minute halves, and scores were not kept as they were focused on the kids just having fun. The high school players still remained competitive with each other. According to team captain Luis Farias, iron sharpens iron. Farias said he anticipates using the court to train.  

“It is really helpful for footwork and all those things that help you, especially since it's a playing field, makes the ball move a lot faster, makes you get a touch faster, and your sense of speed up too,” he said.  

According to Logan, the futsal court being much smaller than a traditional soccer field forces players to focus on footwork and they work with a heavier ball that prevents the players from kicking the ball clear into the park. He feels this court will be beneficial to the high school teams to improve their competition level.  

“The high school kids want to get better. I know we've had some teams that have been very close to working toward a state championship. They've been in the semifinals, and we just need a few more things to push us over the edge,” he said.  

The event saw a positive turnout from community members. Hernandez said she was pleased to see the community support for the new addition to the park. She said she hopes to see the court bring families and community members together.  

“The turnout was better than I expected, and it did help that we invited our youth groups here. It was exciting because then they came along with their parents and family members. When you combine that with snow cones, we have people out. So, it was nice on this hot day,” she said.  

    Soccer players from youth teams and the high school hold up City of Othello Parks and Recreation towels on the new futsal court at Kiwanis Park. Teams from each level competed in exhibition games to celebrate the court opening.
  

    Othello Mayor Shawn Logan giving his opening remarks to community members before cutting the ribbon at the new futsal court. Logan said the court will benefit Othello community members for years to come.
  

    11U Othello Boys Soccer Club player tries to turn the corner on his opponent in an exhibition match. Teams competed in five-minute halves on the opening day of the futsal court.
  

    Huskies boys and girls soccer players competed in their own exhibition match, though they did not take it easy on each other. Othello Mayor Shawn Logan said the court will benefit high school players by training their footwork and ability to work in a smaller space.