Anyone who has driven under the Highway 99 G Street underpass has probably noticed a giant mural of four youth, playing a game of soccer.
The mural, by local artist Richard Gomez, is much more than a colorful artwork to enliven an otherwise humdrum stone wall. It’s an homage to some of the major soccer clubs that exist locally, such as Merced United, Central Valley Fuego FC, Albion Merced and Atwater/McSwain Competitive Soccer Club.
Perhaps it’s only fitting that Gomez’s work is on a highway, as soccer in Merced is a gateway connecting communities and all ages. On any given evening or weekend, one can drive around and see hundreds of people in places like McNamara Park, cheering on their favorites teams, or just rooting for their kids or family members.
Although soccer is already huge in Merced, it’s only going to get bigger. That’s because next year the City of Merced is going to unwrap its $10 million sportsplex, Community Park 42, also known as “CP 42.”
The park, which is being built in south Merced just off Mission Avenue and Tyler Road, is slated to open in June.
It’s poised to put Merced on the map as a regional sports destination, partucularly for soccer, attracting teams and tournaments from across California and beyond.
Best of all, it will offer six top notch soccer fields, along with tennis courts, pickleball and more.
With all of the excitement building over the upcoming CP-42 sportsplex, Merced FOCUS bilingual communities reporter Christian De Jesus Betancourt decided to take a deep dive into some of the people and names for whom soccer is not just a game, it’s a lifestyle.
Some of those folks include people like Eduardo Lopez, technical director of Albion SC who helps young people unlock their potential through soccer.
There’s also Alondra Higareda, a UC Merced student who has become a role model to others through the game of soccer.
Those stories and others are featured in Betancourt’s three-part series, “The Beautiful Game: Merced’s Soccer Legacy.” We hope you enjoy it.