Public Hearing: YES ☐ NO ☒ Department: Board of Commissioners - District 6
SUBJECT:
Title
Commission District(s): 4 and 6
Approve a $75,000 District 6 ARP Appropriation to be Combined with a District 4 $75,000 ARP Appropriation to Augment Field Construction Items #1-17 (see budget attached) to support the Soccer in the Streets, STATIONSOCCER Program, an award-winning initiative that builds community through repurposing unused space in and around MARTA stations and provide safe spaces for multi-generation/multi-cultural to gather, play, learn, and grow.
Body
Information Contact: Commissioner Edward “Ted” Terry
Phone Number: 404-371-4909
PURPOSE:
To divide a $150,000 District 6 and District 4 ARP appropriation of $75,000 each to be used to augment costs associated with field construction at Kensington MARTA station.
NEED/IMPACT:
STATIONSOCCER is an award-winning initiative that builds community through repurposing unused space in and around MARTA stations and provide safe spaces for multi-generation/multi-cultural to gather, play, learn, and grow.
Health benefits of playing soccer
• increases aerobic capacity and cardiovascular health.
• lowers body fat and improves muscle tone.
• builds strength, flexibility and endurance.
• increases muscle and bone strength.
• improves health due to shifts between walking, running and sprinting.
Soccer in the Streets is working with private partners to grow a “league of stations” across the MARTA network. The Kensington STATIONSOCCER project will provide the space for a new transit-based Soccer Club in DeKalb County, with future phases to include community gardens and community art.
The venue of this project falls within the Memorial Drive Revitalization District in the Commission Districts 4/6. The location is within walking distance to several qualified census tract areas of multifamily housing communities as well as easy access from I-285 and inside the Kensington MARTA station. The project has significant opportunities to improve spaces in areas that have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic and will benefit the health and wellness of these communities. The project is the start of MARTA’s masterplan around Transit Oriented Development at Kensington Station.
Once launched Soccer in the Streets has the capacity of serving close to 2,000 citizens at any given event.
FISCAL IMPACT:
District 6 will appropriate $75,000 of ARP funds to be used with the District 6 $75,000 ARP funds to augment field construction costs (see budget attached). This ARP request has been approved for ARP appropriateness, the risk assessment has been completed, and it has been approved to proceed as an emergency.
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommended Action
To approve the district 6 ARP appropriation of $75,000 and authorize the chief executive officer to execute all necessary documents.