By Jonathan Kay
New York City Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe was joined by 27 uniformed Queens youth soccer players in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park Tuesday to accept a $91,400 check from the United States Soccer Foundation for the construction of three Astroturf soccer fields in the city’s second-largest park.
“We believe this is the soccer capital of the city,” Queens Parks Commissioner Richard Murphy said of the park that already holds six fields. “Soccer is much more important to us now than ever before.”
Flushing Meadows-Corona Park Administrator Estelle Cooper thanked representatives from the Eastern New York State Soccer Association who joined her on the platform for their efforts in appealing to the United States Soccer Foundation for grants.
“It took us almost two years of hard work,” Cooper said. “Without these gentleman, we could not have done the things we have done.”
Benepe praised the national foundation, which aims to accelerate the growth of soccer’s popularity throughout the United States, for its contribution’s potential lasting effect on children.
“Sports are a great thing for discipline, and lifelong sports habits are the greatest thing to deal with diseases associated with overeating,” Benepe said. “If you teach them now, they’ll keep it up the rest of their lives.”
Benepe ended his speech by encouraging the young competitors to play hard, listen to their parents, always exercise and never do drugs. He also wished them luck in their future World Cup matches.
“Right now Brazil is the best in the world,” Benepe said. “They showed the Germans [who beat the United States] how to play soccer, and one day we will, too.”
Eastern New York State Soccer Association President Sal Rapaglia assured those present that the donation will affect not only members of his organization but everyone in Queens in need of soccer facilities as well.
“We will work together so this field will be for the entire community,” Rapaglia said. “It will not just be for [the Eastern New York State Soccer Association], but for everybody.”
Murphy, picking up where Benepe left off, emphasized sports’ effect on children as people more than its effect on them as athletes.
“You can be sure the money is going to a good place because hundreds of thousands of children who have gone through this park have become good players, and even more importantly, good citizens,” Murphy said.
The ceremony concluded as Benepe received the check from the foundation’s treasurer. As he accepted the donation, moments before he stepped off the podium to play soccer with his 27 newest friends, he gave observers one final assurance.
“We’ll make sure it’s spent on the children.”
