City officials and community leaders gathered Feb. 12 to break ground on the ExxonMobil Soccer Complex at Beal Park, a multi-phase project set to transform the park into a “premier soccer destination.”
The complex will feature 62 soccer fields of various sizes, a splash park, and other amenities. Once completed, it will serve as a centralized location for Midland Soccer Association games and enable the city to host large-scale tournaments.
The current budget for the project is $44.5 million, with funding contributions from multiple sources: $28 million from the City of Midland, $10 million from the Beal Foundation, $5 million from the Scharbauer Foundation for the splash park, and $1.5 million from ExxonMobil.
“The groundbreaking of the ExxonMobil Soccer Complex at Beal Park marks an exciting step forward for our community, enhancing quality of life for our residents and setting the stage for future growth,” Mayor Lori Blong said in a release from the City of Midland. “This project is a testament to what can be achieved through strong public-private partnerships.”
According to the release, Phase 1 is expected to be completed by the end of 2025, with additional phases beginning in 2026 and final completion projected for September 2028. Initial construction will include land clearing, irrigation installation, and seeding for grass fields. The complex will feature four artificial turf fields, new lighting, restrooms, and expanded parking.
“This groundbreaking of the ExxonMobil Soccer Complex at Beal Park marks the beginning of an incredible project that will bring lasting benefits to our community,” District 4 Councilwoman Amy Stretcher Burkes said. “Families want more sports opportunities for their children to be able to stay in Midland and not continually travel to the Metroplex. This helps alleviate that and provides the opportunity to attract tourism here.”
The ExxonMobil Soccer Complex will join other sports venues in Midland, including the COM Aquatics facilities, Bush Tennis Center, Scharbauer Sports Complex, and the planned Diamondback Energy Athletic Complex.
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Beal Park Display (Source: Midland Times) |
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Bird’s eye view of Beal Park on display (Source: Midland Times) |
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Mayor Lori Blong speaking at the ground breaking ceremony on Feb. 12 (Source: Midland Times) |