City Council has approved a $1.75 million donation from ExxonMobil for the naming rights to the playground and soccer complex proposed at Beal Park.
According to city documents, the renovated park complex will include a full amphitheater, grass and turf soccer fields, a cricket field, a splash park, playground, a food truck court, and hundreds of additional parking spaces. The spaces will be known as the ExxonMobil Soccer Complex and ExxonMobil Playground. The complex will consist of up to 62 soccer fields of various sizes for children of all ages.
The company’s pledge will assist in funding these integral parts of what is anticipated to be the best park in the West Texas region. The reimagined complex aims to provide diverse amenities including an amphitheater and various recreational facilities.
Pioneer Natural Resources, a subsidiary of ExxonMobil, had met with city officials regarding the development of Beal Park as the city’s premier venue for youth soccer. According to submitted documents, the $35 million project will be developed in three phases with construction slated to begin in early 2025. The design of the playground is scheduled for 2025 and will be included in Phase II of development, which is set to start in early 2026.
Mayor Lori Blong said in a news release that soccer is growing in popularity in the region and that the city hopes to conduct tournaments for teams across West Texas at the complex. "We know that soccer is one of the most popular recreational sports in the community in Midland," she said. Blong added that with a median age of 32 years old and their largest demographic being ages 0 to 5, this need is expected to continue growing.