A new soccer plaza near East Jefferson Boulevard will give Oak Cliff youth five turf fields and a long-term gathering place as North Texas hosts the FIFA World Cup.
The Common Ground Soccer Plaza sits on Dallas Area Rapid Transit-owned land that local partners moved to lease earlier this year. The two-acre project includes five turf soccer fields, a pavilion, public art, and a food truck plaza. Future plans call for pickleball courts and a learning center.
The project carries an expected $3.5 million cost, according to the Oak Cliff Advocate. FIFA is funding the soccer plaza, with contractors contributing $2 million, FOX 4 reported. The plaza will be completed before the World Cup ends.
FIFA teamed with Puede Network, an Oak Cliff nonprofit founded by Adan Gonzalez nearly 15 years ago, to bring the project to the neighborhood. The nonprofit provides youth programs, mentorship, after-school activities, and family support.
Gonzalez said the project reflects the neighborhood’s work ethic and desire for opportunity.
“Oak Cliff is my hood. It’s a place where people are resilient and have the kindest hearts,” Gonzalez told FOX 4.
Gonzalez said people in the neighborhood are not asking for handouts, but for work and opportunity.
“We don’t shy away from hard work,” Gonzalez told FOX 4. “When you’re crazy enough to work toward your dream, you turn around and think, ‘Oh my God!’”
“You’ll have the fields that we’ll be able to use for our practices, and we’re also gonna be able host tournaments and leagues,” Gonzalez told KERA.
Legacy Project
The plaza is part of FIFA’s Legacy Program, which aims to leave permanent community projects in World Cup host regions after the tournament ends.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, North Texas is hosting nine FIFA World Cup matches at Dallas Stadium in Arlington, with matches scheduled through July 14.
Puede Network will help manage the plaza, with field rentals, leagues, tournaments, and events expected to support youth programming. The revenue will help fund programs focused on academic success, healthy living, community engagement, athletics, and social-emotional growth.
“It’s a huge community effort,” Gonzalez told KERA. “There’s so many things that can be innovative out of this project.”
How It Came Together
Mariela Estrada of Marcer Construction said the idea grew after North Texas World Cup organizers contacted local partners about legacy initiatives. She said the unused DART property offered an opportunity to turn an underused site into something lasting for children.
“We’d see the kids practicing in the parking lot sometimes, going up and down the hill of the parking lot that we have and said, ‘why don’t we use this and turn it into something incredible?’” Estrada told KERA. “Something that they can use for a long time.”
Gateway Soccer Plaza LLC is leasing the property from DART, and workers broke ground in early May, KERA reported. Dallas City Council Member Chad West said cooperation among the city, DART, and other partners helped the project move quickly.
“This is one of the fastest redevelopments I’ve ever seen,” West told KERA. “What’s incredible about it is it’s not just the city. It’s also involved with DART and multiple departments within the city of Dallas.”
World Cup Spotlight
Puede Network also received a separate World Cup role when FIFA selected the organization to help lead the player escort program during matches. The program gives dozens of students the chance to walk onto the field with players before games.
“When you have national and worldwide organizations that say, Puede Network, you will be the leading organization for players for the World Cup because you guys are worthy, able. That’s really, really cool,” Gonzalez told NBC 5 DFW.
Among the students looking forward to the new plaza is 14-year-old Ayden Maldonado.
“For me it means a lot because it’s a safe place to make better opportunities,” Maldonado told KERA. “I’m going to be a referee there, I’m gonna practice there with my friends and communities, so it’s just really good for me.”
Gonzalez said the project shows what can happen when local groups move quickly around a shared goal.
“I think what we’ve seen today, or are seeing now, is beyond magical. From the City of Dallas helping with permits, DART allowing us to lease this spot,” Gonzalez told the Oak Cliff Advocate. “All these stakeholders that are coming together, bringing in all resources. It’s more than a dream … most people would say it’s impossible to get this done, and it’s getting done.”
