After years of struggling to find places to play futsal, community members near Marquette Park, known as “Dutchtown,” created the first outdoor court in the city of St. Louis. The community felt strongly that soccer should be free and accessible to all.

Marquette Park has long been home to soccer on the South Side. Community members were “excited to begin working with neighborhood partners to bring a unique addition to the full length soccer field that could continue that tradition and provide a fun area for our youth to enjoy the game.”

The work at Marquette Park was largely community driven, with partnerships from MLS team St. Louis CITY SC, Dutchtown Main Streets and Allies of Marquette Park, Dutchtown South Community Corporation, MADE STL, Raineri Construction, McConnell and Associates, and several other private donors.

The Parks department gave the go-ahead to begin planning the project and committed to partnering with the Streets Division to pour a new asphalt pitch over the existing and long defunct volleyball courts next to the Marquette Park Field House.  

In the heart of South St. Louis, the entire court is covered by a mural designed by local artist Jayvn Solomon. The mural brings together elements of the artist’s own style, the soccer club, and the Dutchtown neighborhood that creates a dynamic and colorful experience - not only for players on the court, but the whole neighborhood surrounding the park.

The goals, built by MADE STL, feature the logos of both St. Louis City SC and the Dutchtown neighborhood. The goals have nets made of resilient metal to resist wear and tear from weather and usage.

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