A brand-new soccer pitch and first-of-its-kind ‘futsal’ field is coming to Winnipeg’s north central community. On Saturday, Mayor Scott Gillingham broke ground on the new Jumpstart Community Pitch at the Burton Cummings Community Centre. “This new pitch will give more people the opportunity to play soccer right here in their own neighbourhood,” Gillingham said in a news release. “It’s another example of partners coming together to make investments that strengthen our communities and help build our city.” This new pitch will include a fenced enclosure, player benches, and six goals to accommodate a full-field game or two split-field games. The city also noted the new pitch will accommodate ‘Futsal’ which it described as a ‘specialized, skill-based soccer game played on a smaller field.’ “When it opens later this year, it will be the first of its kind in Winnipeg,” the city said in its release. Construction on the new field is expected to begin next week. The project was funded through the Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities, as well as the Point Douglas Land Dedication Reserve Fund, and the Mayor’s office. The provincial government also put in $80,000 through its ‘From the Ground Up’ grant.
