Operation Pitch Invasion, a charity dedicated to building, revitalizing, and maintaining soccer fields throughout the Portland area, has launched!
Brainchild of the 107 Independent Supporters Trust (107ist) and the Timbers Army, the inaugural project kicks off on July 16:
On July 16, we will be doing our first project — a dry-run of sorts: restoration and maintenance of existing fields at Ed Benedict Park (SE 100th Ave & Powell Blvd.). The following week, OPI will be part of 107ist’s contribution to the labor at James John Elementary School, one of the AC Portland sites. In August, OPI will do another care-and-maintenance-type project with the Portland Parks. And in the fall, we will build our first fields at a park in SE Portland. In coming years, with fuller budgets and more experience, we may do as many as 15-20 projects per year; the region isn’t running out of parks or schools with crappy fields, after all.
To volunteer initially you must be a member of the 107ist (visit the 107ist member forums to sign up), but anyone can donate and suggest future projects.
For more information and background on Operation Pitch Invasion visit Pitch-Invasion.org, and read GREEN IS THE COLOR: Operation Pitch Invasion Wants You! by Shawn Levy at TimbersArmy.org, and The Bachscore of July 4th by Rachel Bachman at The Oregonian.
Leave a Reply