The Caitlin Clark Foundation teamed up with Musco Lighting to donate and dedicate a mini-pitch at Weeks Middle School in Des Moines.

DMPS Superintendent Dr Ian Roberts offers brief remarks, followed by WHO 13 drone video, and thoughts from Caitlin Clark Foundation President Mary Coffin. Clark had practice and was unable to attend.

Here’s the full press release:

WEEKS MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS KICK OFF NEWEST MINI-PITCH

Students at Weeks Middle School made the opening goals and free throws at the school’s new mini-pitch. This particular pitch is the first-ever Caitlin Clark Foundation Community Court. While Musco Lighting has been a strong supporter in developing other soccer mini-pitches at Des Moines Public Schools, support from the Caitlin Clark Foundation is enabling the outdoor facility to be set up for basketball along with soccer and futsal.

The Musco Mini-Pitch System™ modular sports solution is designed to support soccer, basketball, and futsal, a faster-paced variant of soccer. With built-in goals and added hoops, integrated fencing, lighting, benches, custom surfacing, and ADA-accessible gates, the structures will help bring youth in our community together for recreation.

“Providing every student at DMPS with greater access to activities and athletics, along with the first-rate facilities they deserve, is an important part of our strategic plan to reimagine education in Des Moines,” said Dr. Ian Roberts, superintendent of DMPS. “To have an internationally recognized business like Musco Lighting team up with a world class athlete like Caitlin Clark in support of DMPS means a great deal in helping us realize our goal of creating more opportunities for more students.”

“As an Iowa-based company, this project is especially meaningful to us,” said Jeff Rogers, CEO of Musco Lighting. “These community courts will fulfill the Caitlin Clark Foundation’s sports pillar, and help increase access to recreation to provide a space for kids to develop life skills with their friends and family. ”

In addition to Weeks, Musco and the Caitlin Clark Foundation are developing new courts at Callanan, Hiatt and McCombs middle schools. When completed in time for next school year, all ten DMPS middle schools will have a mini-pitch for students.

“We are thrilled to open the first of our four Community Courts in partnership with the fantastic teams at Des Moines Public Schools and Musco Lighting,” said Mary Coffin, President of Caitlin Clark Foundation. “These courts provide youth in our communities with quality space to be active and participate in sports which develop important life-long skills to chase their dreams.”
The Caitlin Clark Foundation and Musco call their relationship a perfect match. The two organizations are located in Iowa and are both committed to equitable access to recreation for youth. Both have a passion for sports, whether it is a game played at the local park and recreation field, a high school gymnasium, a college arena, or a professional venue. Both understand that sports build teamwork, resiliency, and healthy habits.

According to the U.S. Soccer Foundation, about 6.5 million kids live within one-half mile of a mini-pitch, and each pitch can reach an average of 10,000 kids.