It may not be immediately clear what soccer and Atlanta's MARTA public transit system system have in common, but thanks to funding from the Atlanta United Football Club (which will join Major League Soccer in 2017), the unlikely bedfellows are making waves in the world of urban planning. Later this month, the city will welcome the world’s first soccer field located within a public transit station, Atlanta's famous downtown hub, Five Points.

Known as Station Soccer, the field will serve as the latest home base for Soccer in the Streets, a local nonprofit dedicated to empowering Atlanta’s youth through the sport. Station Soccer will offer year-round programming for youth groups, mentoring partnerships, and even adult leagues. The field’s public benefit is twofold: It makes use of an otherwise neglected concrete space, and its centrality makes it accessible and even convenient for almost any city resident to enjoy.

The field’s opening comes at a pivotal time for soccer in the Southern city, whose first-ever team, Atlanta United, will soon be the league's 21st team.

 

Source:architecturaldigest.com

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