ALLENTOWN, Pa. — An underutilized roller hockey rink has been transformed into the Queen City’s first Mini-Pitch system, giving locals a space to develop their soccer skills and hold drop-in, small-sided pickup games year-round.
Located at Jordan Meadows Park at American Parkway and Gordon Street, the surrounding playspace currently has courts for basketball and handball.
But Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk said city staff have heard from locals for years about the need for more local soccer infrastructure.
“We want kids to love soccer, and how you start doing that is just playing around, kicking the ball, improving your skills."Allentown Parks and Recreation Director Mandy Tolino
“We have created this amazing and beautiful Mini-Pitch system that is going to inspire the stars of the future and give a lot of our young people an opportunity to creatively express themselves on a soccer pitch and do some incredible things," Tuerk said at a Tuesday ribbon-cutting.
'Rejuvenate abandoned courts and underutilized areas'
According to the Mini-Pitch system’s website, “This all-in-one modular system offers an ideal solution for communities to rejuvenate abandoned courts and underutilized areas, creating a fun and active place for local youth and families to come together in the spirit of teamwork, empowerment and fitness.”
It’s taken $131,000 in a mix of city, state and local contributions to get to the point of opening the new plastic-tile, 60-by-120-foot play space with metal-chain nets on either side and ADA-accessible entryways.
The space also can be customized for other sports, including pickleball, basketball and tennis.
Another of its kind is set up for play in Pittsburgh, along with three of the same courts in Philadelphia and 12 in New Jersey.
'Show everybody your skills'
Assistant Technical Director of Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Fernando Carrizo, a 40-year resident of Allentown, said that after more than 3 years of hard work in getting to this point, “Here we are, growing the game.”
“We want kids to love soccer, and how you start doing that is just playing around, kicking the ball, improving your skills,” city Parks and Recreation Director Mandy Tolino said.
“So we’re excited that this is going to be a place to really build upon that.”
“It’s just cool to kick the ball and show everybody your skills."Whitehall resident Liam Tran, 8
Whitehall Township resident Liam Tran, 8, said the new Mini-Pitch was “really fun and cool.”
Just before Tran spoke with LehighValleyNews.com, he was hitting the chains from about 25 feet out.
He said he plays primarily as a defender and has two years of experience.
“It’s just cool to kick the ball and show everybody your skills,” Tran said.
Summer fun in the works
Officials said other programming could be on the way for the Allentown space, including potential watch parties for major games on the horizon.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, this coming June 11-July 19, will be held in more than a dozen cities in the United States, Canada and Mexico — including nearby Philly and New York-New Jersey.
"It’s about the connections we’ll make, the friendships that will form and the lives that will be touched."Chris Hendricks, recreation manager for the Allentown Parks and Recreation Department
“Let’s remember that it’s not just an opening of the field — it’s about the connections we’ll make, the friendships that will form and the lives that will be touched,” said Chris Hendricks, recreation manager for the city Parks and Recreation Department.
Hendricks also is a product of the local youth soccer system.
“This is here for all of us to come together, challenge one another and to share in the love of soccer," he said.
