The Adam R. Scripps Street Soccer Park will expand free soccer, mentorship, and youth development programming in Austin.
Austin, TX — September 30, 2026 —The Adam R. Scripps Foundation and Street Soccer USA (SSUSA) with local partnership from 4ATX Foundation, today announced plans to open the Adam R. Scripps Street Soccer Park at Walnut Creek Elementary School on October 20, 2026.
“Neighbors across this community opened doors to make this park come to life. As our first Park in Austin — it’s proof of what a neighborhood can build together: a true home field for youth and families to find soccer and build community for years to come,” said Rob Cann, Austin based Co-Founder and Chief Impact Officer of Street Soccer USA.
Made possible through the support of the Adam R. Scripps Foundation, 4ATX Foundation, and ThunderCloud Subs, the new park will be Street Soccer USA’s first permanent Street Soccer Park in Austin, and homebase for SSUSA and 4ATX programming with youth and families across the city.
“Every young person deserves a safe place to play, grow, and belong. That’s exactly what this park will offer the Walnut Creek Elementary community,” said Alex Bakkum, Chief Philanthropy Officer of the Adam R. Scripps Foundation. “Street Soccer USA has built something remarkable in cities across the country, and we’re honored to help bring that same opportunity to families here in Austin for years to come.”
The Austin location will become park No. 19 in Street Soccer USA’s 26 for 2026 initiative, a national effort to create 26 permanent Street Soccer Parks that increase access to free soccer and community-based youth development.
At Walnut Creek Elementary, Street Soccer USA will provide free programming for youth and adults of varying ages and skill levels, including after-school sessions, clinics, community soccer clubs, leagues, tournaments, mentorship, and life-skills development, with local support from 4ATX Foundation. Walnut Creek Elementary students and local club Walnut United will also have dedicated access to the fields during and after school hours for physical education and school programming.
The park will also be home to the ThunderCloud Subs Street Soccer Learning Center, created through a five-year partnership between Street Soccer USA and ThunderCloud Subs. Located in a converted shipping container between two lighted turf fields, the Learning Center will support after-school programming, job training, mentorship, academic support, and other sports-based youth development opportunities.
The opening also builds on Street Soccer USA’s partnership with 4ATX Foundation and the Verde Pitch Alliance, which is supporting the project through funding, programming, and community engagement.
“4ATX Foundation is proud to partner in bringing this new soccer space right down the road from Q2 Stadium,” said 4ATX Foundation Executive Director Kaitlin Mauro. “Access to welcoming places to play can open doors for young people both on and off the field. We’re excited to see this pitch create more opportunities for connection, growth, and leadership through soccer.”
The Adam R. Scripps Street Soccer Park at Walnut Creek Elementary School will officially open on October 20, 2026. Additional details surrounding the opening celebration will be announced at a later date.
Media Contact:
Street Soccer USA
Cam Robinson
cam@streetsoccerusa.org
About Street Soccer USA
Street Soccer USA is a leading sports-based national nonprofit that fights poverty and strengthens communities through the unifying power of soccer by providing free, community-based programs, mentorship and supportive services that help marginalized youth and their families build life skills, confidence, and leadership. SSUSA delivers specialized outreach and inclusive programming designed to empower participants, helping them discover their strengths, achieve their goals, and expand opportunities.
About the Adam R. Scripps Foundation
Named in honor of Adam Rocha Scripps, a Texas benefactor and longtime Fredericksburg resident, who came by philanthropy naturally and continued the family’s legacy of giving established by renowned philanthropists E.W. and Ellen Browning Scripps. Before passing in 2019, Adam contributed to numerous worthy causes. Governed by many of his siblings, nieces, and nephews, the Adam R. Scripps Foundation is an effort to honor Adam’s legacy with benevolence designed to make measurable and durable impacts on worthy causes across the state of Texas and beyond. For more information, visit www.arsfound.org.
About 4ATX Foundation
4ATX Foundation is the nonprofit arm of Austin FC. 4ATX uses the power of soccer to cultivate welcoming spaces, ignite leadership journeys and connect young people to the wider VERDE community. From building soccer pitches in underserved neighborhoods to teaching social-emotional learning through soccer, 4ATX is forging partnerships and developing programs that empower youth to help lead the way towards a more accessible, healthy and unified central Texas. 4ATX also spearheaded along with Street Soccer USA, Austin Parks Foundation and Soccer Assist the formation of the Verde Pitch Alliance in May 2025 committing $2 million to building more free and public soccer spaces across Central Texas.
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