NFL/LISC Community Football Fields

Quality recreation provides important youth development opportunities

Griffen Stadium's new playing field.

In 1998, when the National Football League and its players established the NFL Youth Football Fund to use football as a catalyst for positive youth development, LISC happily joined them. Together, the two organizations have been refurbishing community football fields across the country through the NFL/LISC Grassroots grants initiative.

Since the program’s inception, over 150,000 youngsters have benefited from the fund’s contribution of $15 million to refurbish 135 community football fields and facilities in underserved neighborhoods nationwide.

The NFL Youth Football Fund and TC LISC are providing nonprofit, neighborhood-based organizations, middle schools, and high schools with financing and technical assistance to revive community football fields in the Twin Cities. Grants have been provided to four Twin Cities projects—North Commons Park and Parade Stadium in Minneapolis, and Jimmy Lee Recreation Center and Griffin Stadium in St. Paul.