Two futsal courts coming soon to Madison Park

Rather than let the tennis courts at Madison Park sit underutilized, the City of Lakewood converted them to the Cleveland area's first outdoor futsal courts. Futsal is a fast growing sport that is essentially a variant of soccer played on a hard surface.

When the city was exploring ideas for transforming the underutilized courts, Andrew Toth, the head coach of the Lakewood High School soccer team approached Mayor Summers with the idea. Mayor Summers says the more he understood the sport and the community around it, the more he saw it as a perfect fit for Lakewood and for Madison Park.

Futsal allows players of all ages to play. The smaller playing field is easier to get around for those young and old." - Mayor Mike Summers

Mayor Summers is betting that the immigrant community will benefit from the futsal courts as well. "While organized youth sports are plentiful in Lakewood, we found participation among immigrants lower due to cultural differences," he said on the subject. He and Coach Andrew Toth are hoping that the "show up and play" aspect of futsal will bring those from all cultural backgrounds and help them gel with the community.

The City was responsible for the court resurfacing, which finished earlier this month. The goals have not yet been ordered as funding is not in place yet.

In an interview with Lakewood Soccer Association, Coach Andrew Toth explained why futsal.

"I wanted to help develop a soccer environment that develops players who are creative dribblers, quick decision makers and able to play in tight spaces. So futsal was a no brainer."

He sees the courts as a way to not only improve the skills of his current team but also hopes that the courts will help develop the next generation of players.

Futsal, already popular in Europe and South America, is set to gain in popularity in the United States when the Professional Futsal League debuts in 2018. Many people are betting big that Americans will like futsal including Mark Cuban, the owner of the Dallas Mavericks, who purchased principal ownership in the league.

While a regular soccer ball will work fine, players will find them difficult to control on the hard surface. Low-bounce 'futsal balls' are available and are recommended for play. They can be purchased locally at Frontline Sports in North Olmsted and online at Dick's Sporting Goods (local stores do not carry) or Amazon. For footwear, any pair of indoor soccer shoes are suitable for play. Cleats and turf shoes will damage the court and are a safety concern.

Mayor Summer also mentioned that a conversion of the underutilized Merl-Bunts Tennis court to a pickleball court is in the works and that the city is working with Lakewood Outdoor Basketball Committee to find a location for a full-sized basketball court.

The futsal courts are the latest in the stream of renovations to Madison Park. Other renovations include an inside-out renovation of central skate house, free wireless internet, LED-lit pathways, and playground enhancements. Further improvements are planned possibly including a pergola and an outdoor performance venue.