Police Soccer Club Seeks Funding For Street Soccer Pitch

HARWICH – The Harwich Police Soccer Club is hoping to expand youth soccer opportunities by purchasing a street soccer pitch, a portable court that can be set up on a parking lot, turf, or the beach to create a venue where the game can be played.

Detective Bob Brackett brought the proposal to the community preservation committee (CPC) on Nov. 2. The police soccer club is seeking $48,700 in Community Preservation Act funds for the portable court. Brackett said the police club was able to borrow a court from Massachusetts Youth Soccer in 2021 and 2023. It was set up in the parking lot at the community center and it drew 100 kids in the evening to play soccer and a crowd of people to watch the games.

The program was developed to create a bond between members of the police department and the town’s youth, he said. It creates engagement in the community, helps children learn to work collaboratively, builds confidence and teaches kids how to resolve conflicts, he said.

The town of Harwich is significantly lacking in recreational facilities and programs for young people, said Brackett. Other than the basketball court at Brooks Park, there is no other place in town where the kids can go to participate in unstructured recreational activities, he said.

“It would be nice to have more activities and places for kids to play,” said Brackett.

The portable court can be set up by four or five people and can be disassembled and moved to another location. It could be used during Port Summer Nights, the Harwich Cranberry Festival or at 204 Sisson for events. The town of Barnstable has the only portable court in continued use on the Cape which is rotated to different locations in the town.

CPC member Kathy Green wanted to know about a location for the court. Brackett said while the court used previously was set up in the community center parking lot, that would not be a permanent location so as not to take up parking there. Long term, he said, it would be great to have a permanent location.

CPC Chair David Nixon, who represents the recreation commission on the CPC, wanted to know if Brackett had communicated with Recreation Director Eric Beebe about the proposal. Brackett said Beebe has been very supportive of the program, but made it clear that the court could not be set up in the pickleball or tennis courts. A day after that discussion, Brackett said, a pickleball only sign was installed at the courts. Brackett also said he approached the Monomoy school district about using the facilities at the high school, and was turned down.

CPC member John Ketchum said the draw of kids using the borrowed court was fantastic, but he questioned why not just use a regular lined soccer field. Ketchum said he raised his kids playing soccer and there are a lot of open fields in town.

“It’s a different game, a smaller game,” said Brackett. Smaller groups, as few as four kids, can use the portable court. With the lined soccer field many more participants are necessary. Brackett also said there is only one lined soccer field in the town, located behind the football field, and it does not even have goals.

The unstructured concept associated with the court is important, he said. Kids can just come in and use it for free, and the court can also be used for street hockey and field hockey.

But finding a permanent location for the street soccer pitch was an outstanding issue. Suggestions included the sand parking area to the north side of the community center and even the Sand Pond parking lot.

“$50,000, and it’s not that portable,” said Green.

The committee took no action on the funding request.