Infrastructure Changes Everything
At Burckhalter Elementary in East Oakland, Playing for Keeps delivered a first: our first full-size turf soccer field outside California, installed during Super Bowl week as part of the Vincent Country Safe Zone Activity Day. On February 3rd, over 200 students stepped onto a brand-new field built with no crumb rubber, no PFAS, and designed to support every learner, including students with mobility or sensory needs.
This wasn’t just a championship week spectacle. It was a nearly $300,000 investment in permanent infrastructure for a community that didn’t have a safe place to play.
The Intervention
Five principles shaped what we built:
- National expansion — proving that our mission travels beyond California into communities across the country
- Inclusive design — an adaptive agility mat alongside the field so that every student, regardless of ability, has a way to move and play
- Sustainable materials — Pivot Performance turf built to withstand daily use without maintenance burden
- Community partnership — working alongside Troy Vincent Sr., Tommi A. Vincent, and their nine-year Vincent Country initiative
- Long-term activation — infrastructure designed not for one day, but for years of daily play
This was not simply a field installation. It was proof that national infrastructure investment is possible when the right partners align.
The Outcome
- 200+ Pre-K through fifth-grade students experienced structured play on safe turf during the activation day
- A permanent field now supports daily student play during school hours
- School community access expanded to include weekend and after-hours programming
- Part of a nine-year initiative that has mobilized $745,000 in total resources toward Burckhalter
- Catalyst for Playing for Keeps’ national expansion strategy
The Lesson
Three things this project taught us about building infrastructure that lasts:
- Championship moments matter, but only if they lead to permanent change. One day of spectacle means nothing without infrastructure that stays.
- National work requires local partnerships. We succeeded at Burckhalter because we worked alongside leaders already embedded in the community, not instead of them.
- A child’s zip code should never determine whether they have a safe place to play. This field proves that changing that is possible when we commit to infrastructure, not just moments.
"A safe place to play is not a luxury amenity. It is a promise we make to the next generation."
Built With the Best in the Business
