By Louis Zylka
The 830 Times
The Rotary Club of Del Rio revealed to the community the refined soccer field located at 101 Cantu St. on Thursday morning.
City officials, members of the Del Rio Chamber of Commerce and local soccer players attended the grand opening of the Rotary Park Soccer Field, which transformed from a rectangle of dirt and rock to a luscious field of grass made for games to be played on.
The Rotary Club, a local civic organization, adopted the park from
redesigned Rotary Park Soccer Field located at 101 Cantu St. Local leaders said the park will also improve the quality of life in the
community. (Photo by Louis Zylka)
the city in 2003 with the goal of improving it for the community.
The ribbon cutting began with words of gratitude from current Del Rio Rotary Club President Cheryl Simmons, who started her term July 1. Simmons thanked the city’s parks and recreation department for their staff’s involvement in the project by adding the fencing and lighting to the park. She also thanked the Friends of Val Verde Health and Wellness Inc. for awarding the Rotary Club with a $20,000 grant for completing the project.
Abram Rodriguez, the past president of the Rotary Club, also thanked the people involved and said the field will “help improve the quality of life (in the community).” He mentioned the Rotary Club is “over 100 years old” and said the park will add to the ever-growing legacy of the club. The club also adopted the pocket park on Main Street and operates the Del Rio Rotary Village on North Bedell Avenue, home to a number of senior citizens.
After some rounds of applause, the gates for the park opened up for the soccer players who attended the grand opening to run in and play some ball.
Rodriguez spoke after the ribbon cutting and said the Rotary Club has plans for future improvements at the park. He also said it was a great feeling to see the park complete, which began and ended during the entirety of his term.
Simmons added the field will help support youth sports and offer area young people a venue for outdoor activities.
“Part of the Rotary Club is ‘service above self.’ That is our motto,’ Simmons said. “Giving these kids a quality area to play and better themselves and keeping families outdoors as well (is
important).”
Mark Salas, coach of the Amistad F.C. Soccer Club, brought his team of soccer players to see the redesigned field and play some soccer.
Salas said the field is good for the kids in Del Rio, adding that Rotary Club did a “good thing.” He said his team has plans to use it for future practices.
