MARTA opens StationSoccer facility at East Lake
Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) and several partner organizations hosted a ribbon cutting for the second StationSoccer facility in DeKalb on Oct. 30 at East Lake MARTA Station in Atlanta.
Officials from MARTA were joined by Soccer in the Streets, City of Atlanta, Atlanta United Community Fund, Georgia Power, and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, and other local leaders at the ribbon cutting – which included a community celebration and pickup soccer games hosted by Amazon.
StationSoccer was created by Soccer in the Streets, MARTA, and Atlanta United Foundation to build a network of soccer fields located at MARTA stations and connected by MARTA. MARTA officials said the project will eventually form a 10-station league that’s “affordable and easily accessible by transit.”
Marissa Ahrens from Atlanta United Foundation said StationSoccer is important because it “removes the biggest barrier in youth sports: Transportation.”
“This new StationSoccer location will not only connect children through the love of soccer and refine their skills, but cultivate friendships that extend far beyond the field, enriching lives and strengthening the bonds of our community,” said MARTA General Manager and CEO Collie Greenwood.
A news release states that the “East Lake location will be a focal point for the community,” by serving students from the Global Village Project, Villages of East Lake, and Decatur Housing Authority. Girls from Global Village Project also created the artwork for custom Breeze Cards.
“Soccer in the Streets is one of the best initiatives that we have going in the metro region right now, and I’m grateful to all who support it,” said Sen. Jon Ossoff. “Senator Warnock and I worked together to bring Republicans and Democrats in the Senate together to pass a $1 million appropriation to support Soccer in the Street’s efforts across Metro Atlanta, and we’re going to continue supporting their efforts.”
MARTA officials also announced that the StationSoccer program will continue to expand with plans for fields at four additional MARTA locations. Doraville’s MARTA station is the only DeKalb station already in MARTA’s expansion plans.
