Scranton awarded $100,000 grant to install soccer pitch for World Cup

SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA CO. (WOLF) — Weston Field in Scranton is one of the main public sport hubs within the city, and soon, it’s getting an upgrade.

The city announced on Monday that it had been awarded a $100,000 grant to build a mini pitch from the US Soccer Foundation in a partnership with Philadelphia Soccer 2026.

The pitch will be located on Weston field, parallel to the current soccer field, and will measure 90 by 50 feet.

“We always talk about how Westin field is the beating heart of sports in Scranton, and Scranton is the beating heart of NEPA,” said Scranton mayor Paige Cognetti. “So, it makes perfect sense that this mini pitch for soccer, for kids to learn how to play soccer and learn and love for the game is right here at Weston Field in Scranton.”

It’s just one of the recently installed or soon to be renovated parts of the space, with the new pool last year, the skate park opening last October and the basketball court planned for renovation. The city hopes that strikers, sweepers, and soccer players of all ages will take advantage of the new installation, and that it’ll help bring even more people outside and on the field.

“It’s wonderful to see a community come together,” relished Dana Force, the recently appointed Scranton parks and recreation director. “It’s wonderful to build those relationships with kids and give them a safe place to be and grow and start building stewardship for the fields and the courts that they use.”

The pitch is part of Philadelphia Soccer 2026’s $2 million “26 for 26” initiative to active 26 soccer related programs across the commonwealth. It includes installing pitches, mentoring coaches, and more, and seeing as Scranton will be one of three Pennsylvania World Cup fan zones later this year, the investment into city, seemed like an easy goal.

“A lot of big events happen in all cities across the country, and then the event leaves and there’s nothing to show for it,” explained Philadelphia Soccer 2026 chief external affairs officer Melissa Piccoli. “And we wanted this event to be different we wanted people from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh to feel this long after the final whistle here in Philly for the World Cup.”

The investment will be voted on by the City Council at their meeting Tuesday and if they don’t give it a red card, work is expected to start in May, hopefully concluding in mid-June before the world cup storms the field this summer.