Less than a year after its initial introduction from city leaders, two new hard-surface mini soccer pitches are now open at Burnett Bayland Park in Houston’s Gulfton area.

The installation of the soccer pitches is the first completed project of the park’s master plan, officials with Harris County Precinct 4 said in a news release. Precinct 4 provided $150,000 for the initial phase and plans to spend more than $1 million in renovations, officials said. The original funding was in addition to $100,000 pledged by District J Council Member Edward Pollard and the Gulfton Management District.

Quote of note

“The Gulfton Area Management District is extremely grateful to have so many generous and caring partners on this project as we work together to make this neighborhood even more of a dynamo for community activity, culture, recreation and improved public safety,” Chair Tammy Rodriguez said in a news release.

The details



An official ribbon-cutting ceremony took place May 30 with Houston city leaders, including Mayor Sylvester Turner, Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones and Council Member Pollard, alongside representatives of the Dynamo, Houston’s Major League Soccer team; the Houston Parks and Recreation Department; and the Gulfton Management District.

The framework

Officials with Harris County Precinct 4 and the Gulfton community broke ground July 2022 on two new hard-surface mini soccer pitches in Houston’s southwest neighborhood.

  • The groundbreaking event took place three weeks after FIFA announced Houston as one of the 16 host cities for the 2026 World Cup.
  • The Houston Dynamo partnered with Harris County to develop 15 mini-pitches across the city and county by 2024.
  • The initial program by the Houston Dynamo is working in conjunction with the U.S. Soccer Foundation, according to a news release, and is intended to introduce soccer into communities that might otherwise not have access to the resources necessary to play.
(Courtesy Harris County Precinct 4)
Two new soccer pitches were installed at Burnett Bayland Park. (Courtesy Harris County Precinct 4)

The breakdown

The hard-surface mini soccer pitches include lighting and other features so soccer players of all ages and abilities can play and develop their skills.

  • Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant access
  • Lockable storage areas
  • Modular design
  • Ability for all soccer pitch amenities to be assembled or disassembled in approximately 16 hours to customize the space