Transforming dusty, bumpy football and soccer fields into state of the art athletic facilities for more than a decade, Local Initiatives Support Corporation Chicago (LISC) celebrated the latest Chicago one on Saturday with the grand opening of a field at Altgeld Park on Chicago’s West Side. LISC was joined by Mayor Rahm Emanuel, dozens of young athletes and their coaches, as well as partners from the Chicago Park District, the Pritzker Traubert Family Foundation and Chicago Hope Academy.

“Engaging kids and families through sports brings neighborhoods together, which in turn, can serve to reduce crime,” said Susana Vasquez, LISC Chicago’s executive director. “New fields, parks and sports teams give all residents something to cheer for.”

With the help of a $200,000 grant from LISC and spearheaded by the Park District’s “Take the Field” initiative, the field at Altgeld Park in the 500 block of South Washtenaw Avenue underwent a complete renovation, with artificial turf surface, new lighting and fully designed for football, soccer, rugby, baseball, little league and softball.