SCORES and Partners Unveil New Field of Dreams at MLK Middle School
In partnership with the Bay Area Host Committee, SCORES unveiled its biggest Field of Dreams at MLK Middle School in the Bayview neighborhood in San Francisco. The field is the 30th Field of Dreams realized by SCORES in its drive to transform asphalt playgrounds into safe, green play spaces. The ambitious project was brought to life through SCORES’ partnership with the Bay Area Host Committee’s Sports for All initiative and the support of The Herbst Foundation, the Caerus Foundation, and Kaiser Permanente.
In addition to the main field — 35,000 square feet — the space also includes a new smaller field and resurfaced sports courts. The full playground renovation represents 100,000 total square feet and supports a wide range of sports activities at MLK Middle School, including soccer, baseball, volleyball, track, and flag football. When not used by the school, the space will be available for neighborhood residents and community sports organizations throughout the year.
The MLK turf field marks the first of nine fields in the Bay Area supported by BAHC’s Sports for All initiative, which aims to bring safe, high-quality, fun, and inclusive sports outlets to youth in communities across the Bay. That mission aligns with America SCORES’s ongoing Field of Dreams campaign, which expands access to free play, sports, youth development, and community enrichment in underresourced communities.
"This project began seven years ago with a simple conversation—and today, it stands as a true Field of Dreams for the MLK community,” said Colin Schmidt, Executive Director of America SCORES Bay Area. “We’re proud that SCORES persisted and led the effort to make it happen, and we are deeply grateful to SFUSD, The Herbst Foundation, Caerus Foundation, and especially the Bay Area Host Committee for helping turn this vision into reality."
That conversation seven years ago began with Cesar Flores, a 42-year-veteran of SFUSD and current MLK Middle School counselor and much-loved SCORES coach. Flores pitched the idea to SCORES’ program director Roberto Gil, noting that MLK Middle School is situated in one of the city’s most underserved areas despite being home to a significant percentage of San Francisco youth. Nearly 25 percent of the population of Bayview is under the age of 17.
Mayor Daniel Lurie was on hand for the ribbon cutting, telling the assembled crowd of students and poet-athletes, “You’ve got to dream big, and this field is going to help us all dream bigger. Our public schools are teaching and educating our future leaders. You deserve all of this and more.”
Zaileen Janmohamed, President and CEO of BAHC, told the assembled students to "learn all the things that sport offers you, friendships, collaborations, work ethic, not giving up when things get you down. Those are the things that build us people and as athletes, and they're the things that serve us for life." She continued, "Use this field, play on this field, build your technical and human skills on this field. This is your time. Use it and do great things."
Tyson Fechter, principal of MLK Middle School, underscored the significance of the new field to his school’s community, saying, “"I've always been proud to be part of the MLK community, but being able to witness the completion of this athletic space has never made me more proud to be an MLK Cobra.” MLK Middle School class president, Justin Chen, emphasized how much students “love and appreciate” the new field. “It not only represents our progress, but also fosters a more inclusive and engaging environment for our school,” he said.
“You’ve got to dream big, and this field is going to help us all dream bigger.”
Before and After - MLK Middle School Fields
“This project began seven years ago with a simple conversation—and today, it stands as a true Field of Dreams for the MLK community”
Genesis, a confident SCORES poet-athlete and third grader at ER Taylor Elementary School, performed her poem to an impressed crowd, calling out her love of the beautiful game.
More Photos from Opening Day
Mayor Lurie promoted the new MLK Field of Dreams on Instagram Reels, where he’s been showcasing the dynamism and rich diversity of San Francisco.