Nicolas Carvajal, president of Imperial Soccer Club in Sugar Land, grew up playing soccer at Lost Creek Park—the same park the nonprofit club manages today.

Creating this club and bringing soccer back to the park where he played as a kid is a full circle moment for him, he said.“We brought life back to the park,” Carvajal said. “Even our colors kind of represent the old club that used to be here; it was called Eclipse. We have some coaches from back in the day, we have some coaches that started soccer here at the park. So it’s pretty neat bringing soccer and the community back.”

What it offers

Carvajal and his father earned a contract with the city of Sugar Land in early 2020, but began operations of the club in January 2021, he said. They maintain the grounds by supplying the goals and equipment, cutting the grass and providing security for the park.Imperial Soccer Club has programs for kids ages 3-18 and boasts more than 1,000 members participating in 15 to 20 teams, Carvajal said.

The club's programs include a recreational and a competitive league for boys and girls as well as strength and conditioning. It also has an academy program to act as a bridge for young soccer players between 5 to 9 years old to cross over from recreational to competitive.Why it matters

Carvajal said his parents bought him soccer cleats before he was even born. In his years playing the sport, he learned leadership skills, communication, teamwork and the value of community.“I basically learned everything on the field through my trainers. And that’s what we're doing now—we try to teach [kids] on and off the field,” Carvajal said. “I still have friends that I practice with here, and that's pretty much how I made friends in school, by playing on a team and community building.”

• 3703 Lost Creek Blvd., Sugar Land
• www.imperialsc.org