<p><strong>Happy Friday! Here are a couple of news items&nbsp;that were shared by the City of Auburn today:</strong></p>
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<p><strong>NEW TREES BEAUTIFY AUBURN'S SOUTHERN GATEWAY</strong></p>
<p>The City of Auburn used a generous $8,000 grant from Project Canopy to plant trees on the median of Washington Street. Site was completed this week. The twelve 2-inch diameter gingko &ldquo;Autumn Gold&rdquo; trees will beautify the southern gateway to the city. The trees were selected because gingkoes, which are tolerant of salt and traffic emissions, are well suited to this challenging location.</p>
<p>Project Canopy grants funded are by USDA Forest Service-Urban and Community Forestry and administered by the Maine Forest Service.</p>
<p>The grant proposal was developed by city staff, with support from the Lewiston-Auburn Community Forest Board. The LACFB is a subcommittee of the Auburn Conservation Commission. Project Canopy&rsquo;s annual grants are highly competitive, and Auburn is pleased and proud to receive this generous support.</p>
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<p><strong>LET THE FUTSAL FUN BEGIN!</strong></p>
<p>The City of Auburn&rsquo;s very first Futsal Court &ndash; located in the Chestnut &ldquo;Gully&rdquo; Park - has been completed! Futsal is a popular version of soccer that is played on a court (indoor or outdoor) with fewer players and a smaller, weighted ball. This court will help serve the growing demand of soccer related programs in the area, along with supplying a familiar activity to our growing New Mainer population.</p>
<p>The City of Auburn partnered with MUSCO Sports Lighting and the U.S. Soccer Foundation on their Mini-Pitch System Program to install a 104&rsquo; x 96&rsquo; surface that offers a double court playing area. The court surface is similar to an outdoor basketball court, with an asphalt base and acrylic surface that will include lines and logos of partners (to be painted in Spring 2022). The courts come as a modular system, complete with lighting, fencing, goals, benches, ADA-compliant access, and lockable storage.</p>
<p>&ldquo;It was important for us to find additional support to secure two courts due to the city&rsquo;s high demand for space to play soccer,&rdquo; said Recreation Director, Sabrina Best. &ldquo;In the few days the court has been completed, the space has already seen a high level of play with the neighborhood kids coming out to enjoy the new structure.&rdquo;</p>
<p>The project was funded by a variety of sources including a $20,000 grant from MUSCO Sports Lighting and U.S. Soccer Foundation. Soccer Maine contributed another $47,000, which helped fund a double court system instead of a single court. The rest of the funding was provided by City of Auburn CIP funds.</p>
<p>&ldquo;With this new playing area available to our community, securing local support for soccer programming became essential,&rdquo; said Best. Auburn teacher Todd Whitcomb - also from Soccer Maine - has been organizing a soccer &ldquo;skills and drills program&rdquo; at the Auburn PAL Center for several years. Whitcomb was able to partner with the Yarmouth Colts girls&rsquo; travel soccer program to secure a $10,000 grant from Dick&rsquo;s Sporting Goods to help cover equipment costs for programming for local kids. &ldquo;There are items that are needed to play the sport which are often too much of an expense for families, such as cleats, shin guards, sports bras, sport Hijabs, etc. This grant will be able to fund those,&rdquo; added Best.</p>
<p>Yet another benefit of the new futsal court: it can be used as an outdoor ice rink this winter! According to Auburn PAL Coordinator Shawn Boyd, &ldquo;The soccer players in the neighborhood are very happy and they think this is a nice set-up. And excitement about an ice rink has been even greater, as it appeals to kids and adults. Overall, I think this new court will inspire even more outdoor activity in the Gully, especially in the winter.&rdquo;</p>
<p>The city will host an official grand opening ceremony in spring of 2022, once the court&rsquo;s acrylic surface and logos are painted. Soccer clinics and games will soon follow.</p>
<p>For more information on Auburn&rsquo;s Futsal Project, please reach out to Sabrina Best, Auburn Recreation Director, at [email protected] or 333-6611.</p>
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<p><em>Have a great weekend!</em></p>


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