Community organizers ask Fresno to protect weekly soccer pickups at Carey Park, cite opaque reservation fees and inequity

Community organizers urged the Parks, Recreation and Arts Commission to protect a long-running Monday-night futsal pickup at Carey Park and to ensure reservation policies and fees are applied equitably.

Pedro Navarro Cruz, speaking for Love Peace Football, told commissioners the volunteer-run pickup in Carey Park draws roughly 100 participants and continues a 20-year tradition at that site. He said a roller-hockey group reserved the court for an evening and that the reservation displaced the weekly soccer gathering. Navarro Cruz said Love Peace Football was informed that a reservation would cost $145 per hour, an amount community volunteers could not afford; he later said the hockey group was offered a discounted rate of $90 for two hours, a rate not communicated to his group.

Coach Cesar Gomez, who brings a 12-and-under team to Carey Park each Monday, said the courts are a "home" for kids and families, providing structure and connection. "What we do here isn't about money, it's about heart, unity, and hope," he told commissioners, urging a mutual respect for community spaces that have become weekly gathering places.

Requests and context: Speakers asked staff to: (1) accommodate Love Peace Football's weekly pickups at city gymnasiums or indoor facilities such as Tessie Wills or Maxi Parks so futsal can be played in appropriate indoor space; and (2) prioritize funding in the next fiscal year for a multi-court indoor futsal complex (at least three small-sided courts) to better reflect local demand for soccer-themed facilities.

Why it matters: Commenters argued that Fresno's parks planning and amenity prioritization has leaned on national trends rather than local participation data and demographics; they said investments should reflect Fresno's largely Latino population and local usage patterns that favor soccer, basketball and volleyball over emerging activities such as pickleball in some neighborhoods.

Administration response: Park staff noted October is a busy month with multiple events and encouraged the public to check the parks calendar for free community events. Staff also described recent awards and implementation efforts tied to Measure P but did not announce an immediate scheduling change during the meeting.

Ending: Organizers asked commissioners to consider greater transparency and equity in reservation rates and to evaluate indoor court options and capital planning to support ongoing community-led programs.