SALT Mini-Pitch

The Challenge

Based in Alton, Illinois, Student Athletes Leading Tomorrow (SALT) is a youth development organisation that seeks to ensure all children have opportunities to develop active, healthy lifestyles through participation in sports. After investigating the barriers to participation in football, SALT Executive Director Damian Jones realised the sport’s pay-to-play business model and a lack of space in urban areas make it difficult for youth from under-resourced communities to play the game. Jones began looking for a solution to create a space that would provide free youth football opportunities as well as serve as a hub for community programming.

The Solution

After reading an article about the U.S. Soccer Foundation’s Safe Places to Play initiative, Jones envisioned using Musco’s Mini-Pitch System™—a modular sports solution complete with fencing, goals, and responsible TLC for LED® lighting—to transform a weathered tennis court at Rock Springs Park. By creating a clear, concise narrative that explained the project’s goals and benefits for potential partners—such as hosting health clinics with local hospitals, P.E. classes from the adjacent middle school, and football-based programming run by St. Louis City Soccer Club—Jones gained the support needed to bring the project to life. Turnkey installation of the mini-pitch was carried out by Musco, and every part and all labour on the system is covered for 10 years by the company’s long-term warranty.