Surrey United Soccer Club receives $250K provincial grant for new facility in Cloverdale Athletic Park<\/p>\n
Published 9:30 am Saturday, March 21, 2026<\/p>\n
A local soccer club has received a $250K grant from the Province.<\/p>\n
Surrey United Soccer Club (SUSC) said the money will help cover the cost of making their new training facility accessible. The covered, multi-sport practice facility is currently being built in Cloverdale Athletic Park (CAP).<\/p>\n
The money is part of the Community Gaming Grants program. The funding grant, along with other provincial grants, was announced at CAP March 20. Mayor Brenda Locke and other representatives from both the municipal and provincial governments were on hand for the announcement.<\/p>\n
Ali Wilkinson, SUSC president, told the Cloverdale Reporter the money is going to help with some critical accessibility items so the building will be \u201copen to all athletes\u201d who want to use it.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have a lift going into that space,\u201d she said. \u201cWe are also having ongoing conversations with para athletes and (para) organisations.\u201d<\/p>\n
She said the idea is to deliver an inclusive facility that can offer all athletes a \u201csport for life\u201d space to play.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat is what this funding is all about.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wilkinson added both the SUSC board and its members were very thankful for the grant. She said the funding is representative of the collaboration that\u2019s gone on through the whole process, first with the City of Surrey and now with the Province.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis project is about coming together for the benefit of the community.\u201d<\/p>\n
The project has been supported by Mayor Locke and the City of Surrey since its outset. The Parks and Rec. Department\u2019s 10-year strategic plan recommended the department partner with community groups to \u201cadvance opportunities for new indoor facilities. In a corporate report in 2023, Laurie Cavan, dep\u2019t GM, noted Surrey United\u2019s plan for a covered facility fit the department\u2019s own recommendations.<\/p>\n
As part of that project, the city has leased the land to SUSC for 30 years, with Surrey United fundraising for the design, building, construction, and future operation of the building.<\/p>\n
Mayor Locke said the money influx from the Province is very welcome. She said the city is fully behind the facility and will continue to help out. The city has donated costs associated with the land at CAP (about $10 million) and utilities for the building (about $500,000).<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a big undertaking for a club,\u201d she said. \u201cIt is very expensive. So, we\u2019re really excited for them.\u201d<\/p>\n
The mayor said she\u2019s spoken to both Wilkinson and Jeff Clarke (SUSC sporting director) a lot about the project and she\u2019s eagerly awaiting its opening in the fall.<\/p>\n
As for the facility itself, Wilkinson said the foundation is in and the steel is set to arrive over the next few days.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s 15 trucks of steel coming before next Tuesday and it\u2019ll start to be erected the week after,\u201d she noted. \u201cSo, we\u2019ll really start to see it changing pretty quick.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wilkinson noted the turf is set to go in in July and the finer details will be finished after that. They are hoping for a September or October open.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a community building,\u201d she added. \u201cWe want as many sports in there, as many user groups in there, as we can hold.\u201d<\/p>\n