PLAYA New TOMMY'S FIELD!
We are gifting our third Tommy's Field to Los Angeles, in Boyle Heights. This state-of-the-art athletic field with lights will be part of the Sixth Street Parc project being developed under the city's new and iconic Sixth Street Bridge. Tommy's Field-Boyle Heights will provide more public field space for soccer and other field sports in a city that is desperate for more safe places where children can play.
What is the primary issue area that your application will impact?
Green space, park access, and trees
In which areas of Los Angeles will you be directly working?
East LA
In what stage of innovation is this project, program, or initiative?
Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)
What is your understanding of the issue that you are seeking to address?
We are addressing the desperate need Los Angeles has for more public athletic fields / green space for youth field sports and free play.
Describe the project, program, or initiative this grant will support to address the issue.
This grant will support the gift of a third "Tommy's Field" to the City of Los Angeles. "Tommy's Field-Boyle Heights" will be a U10 size soccer / multipurpose field to be developed in under the Sixth Street Bridge as part of the LA City's Sixth Street Parc project. "Tommy's Field-Boyle Heights" will have no fence or lock. It will have lights. And it will have built in seating around it for families and spectators to enjoy. "Tommy's Field-Boyle Heights" will be managed by the Department of Recreation and Parks and like all Tommy's Fields, will allocate a generous portion of field space time for "free play" so that all children in the community have access to enjoy it. Together we are brightening our city with more valuable green space and much-needed PLAY, one Tommy's Field at a time.
Describe how Los Angeles County will be different if your work is successful.
Tommy's Field-Boyle Heights will transform the Eastside of our city in the same way our first two Tommy's Fields have transformed the Westside. Prior to gifting our first Tommy's Field in 2021, most of the city's athletic fields in public parks were built with high fences and locks. Our first Tommy's Field not only got rid of fences and locks, but also convinced the Dept. of Rec and Parks to lower existing fences around its other public fields in the city so that children could access them for free. Every Tommy's Field also designates meaningful "free play" hours to ensure that all children have access to free play. This has been a huge win for the children of Los Angeles, who desperately need more safe places to play, exercise, and engage with their community at no cost. LA doesn't have enough public green space to accommodate the demand children have to play in this city, and "Tommy's Field-Boyle Heights" is the expansion of a proven solution to this city-wide problem.
Approximately how many people will be impacted by this project, program, or initiative?
Direct Impact: 35,000
Indirect Impact: 100,000