The Kansas City Wizards, in partnership with the Kansas City Parks and Recreation Department, are proud to announce the approval of a land lease in Swope Park. This land will serve as the site of the Kansas City Wizards training facility and soccer fields and will also benefit the surrounding Kansas City community.
"This is a historic agreement between our organization and the Kansas City Parks and Recreation Department," Kansas City Wizards Executive Vice President Greg Cotton said. "We're taking a major step toward creating world-class facilities for our players while at the same time re-committing to the development of Kansas City's urban soccer player."
The facility and soccer fields will provide the most professional environment possible for players. Plans for the facility include over 7,500 square feet of facility space and four soccer fields. The 7,000 square-foot main structure will house the players, coaching and technical staff and the adjacent 800 square-foot building will serve as a storage shed and turf maintenance area. Some of the features the main facility will offer are a locker room, a treatment room, a training room with weights and cardio equipment and a player lounge.
"This is another demonstration for our players of how committed this ownership group is to the technical side of the organization," Kansas City Wizards Technical Director Peter Vermes said. "This plays an integral part in the long-term success of this team in that this world-class facility will provide us with the opportunity to entice domestic and international players to our organization."
As part of the agreement, the Kansas City Wizards organization will install a state-of-the-art irrigation system and maintain two soccer fields for Swope Park. Additionally, the organization will rebuild two of the current soccer fields on the premises, and outfit these fields with warm weather and cool weather grass, respectively. Various adult and youth soccer leagues within the Kansas City area will be allowed to play on these fields as part of the Wizards commitment to contribute to the Kansas City community.
"We are looking forward to providing what resources we have to the Kansas City community and using our fields as a place to promote the game of soccer and help develop young players and athletes," Kansas City Wizards President Robb Heineman said. "Our fields are in the heart of the city, and we are committed to using the game of soccer to teach young players life lessons on and off the field."
Kansas City Parks and Recreation played an integral part in the planning process through this mutually beneficial agreement. Not only will the Wizards have a state-of-the-art facility to practice and train in, but the Parks and Recreation Department will also benefit from improved fields and maintenance.
"We welcome the Kansas City Wizards because the Parks Department and citizens alike benefit from the improvement of two of the fields," Marci Jones, south region manager for Kansas City Parks and Recreation said. "Now young athletes can play on fields that will be maintained at a higher level than they were before. It is an exciting development for Swope Park."
The date for completion of the facilities and occupancy is set for June 1. A major groundbreaking event held in cooperation with the Kansas City Parks and Recreation Department will be announced at a later time.
