Parque Chimiya at San Juan Comalapa
The Soccerfield

The feature of Parque Chimiyá that brings in by far the most visitors is the soccer field. A grass, fenced-in, regulation-size field, it is the only one of its kind in the area. Having a lawn as part of your home or school is almost unheard of in Guatemala, and many children grow up not knowing what it’s like to tumble in the grass. Our soccer field gives young people that opportunity and has been the site of many schools’ “field day” activities, not to mention countless soccer matches, both informal and semi-professional. It’s also a great spot for stargazing, and Long Way Home volunteers have found it to be ideal for tossing a Frisbee after work. The soccer field at Parque Chimiyá has become a place for Comalapans to come together for any number of community building activities.

Education

Physical education is not a requirement in Guatemalan schools. While elementary schools always take time for recess, there is very little in the way of structured activities or sports education. Additionally, most schools and communities in Guatemala don’t have good grass soccer fields, and the national sport is often played on small fields of hard-packed dirt. Using the soccer field at Parque Chimiyá gives people the opportunity to have soccer practice or to participate in any number of organized physical education activities on an attractively grassed in area. Schools frequently bring their students to use the soccer field, thereby exposing the children to the various educational aspects of the park.

Background

After renovating the staff housing and starting the gardens, the first thing Long Way Home constructed in Parque Chimiyá was the soccer field. Working closely with Chuwi Tinamit, who largely funded the project, the two organizations joined forces to clear the space that would become the soccer field. Clearing the area and then making the clearing perfectly level was a Herculean task that involved very little heavy machinery and was done mostly by hand. This was only possible through the intimate collaboration between Long Way Home and Chuwi Tinamit, and its success was an important step in the ongoing partnership of the two organizations.

Obtaining grass to plant on the large new soccer field was a challenge because the grass had to be dug up by hand to be transplanted from around the park and neighborhood. Possibly an even greater challenge was the process of convincing the inter-organizational committee to use no fertilizers or chemicals on the field. It was an excellent exercise in diplomacy and intercultural communication that ultimately served to unify all the participants and introduce important environmental concepts to new, receptive audiences. Once the field was planted, it was enclosed with locally purchased fencing. Although many other features have since been added to the park, the soccer field continues to be the main attraction.

Sustainability

Attracting not only locals, but also groups and individuals from up to 50 miles away, the soccer field is responsible for most of the park’s income. At a cost of $0.26 per person, the entrance fees are now enough to pay the park’s electric bill and pay a salary for the park’s caretaker, a local indigenous Mayan man. While all park visitors pay an entrance fee, it is the soccer field that generates a vast majority of the income. In the sense that the soccer field earns enough money to pay for the park to be taken care of, Parque Chimiyá is financially sustainable largely as a result of the soccer field’s popularity.

As the owner of the park, Chuwi Tinamit takes great pride in the success of the soccer field. Recognizing the park’s value as a viable business, this local organization feels a strong sense of ownership of the project and is interested in its successful continuation. Outside personnel are not needed for the continuation of the soccer field, making it a sustainable project within the community.

The soccerfield is the cornerstone project of our work at Chimiya. That is because it represents a place where the entire community can get involved, whether young or old, boy or girl. The soccerfiled has come a long way since we broke ground a little over a year ago, but as you can see we are regularly hosting games and tournaments. We have temas, uniforms, referees. It has been a tremendous success and has attracted a lot of people to our work. Check out more pictures of the soccerfield here.

Total Cost: $10,000

Design

50 meters by 115 meters is what we have to work with. The international design Standard is 60 meters by 110 meters.

Soil Preparation

The soil that we are working with needs to be amended first. In doing so, we have been on the hunt for organic material in the form of compost and manure.  Three options have been explored all considering time, energy and resources.

We have collected 500 bags of composted and non composted materials. The compost that is not ready is being processed by adding sawdust and is covered with black plastic to increase the heat produced within. We need about a 1000 bags of compost and considering the amount of energy to find the compost, purchase the compost, and move the compost we have explored option. This compost will also be used in our gardens and landscapes.

Click here if you would like to help donate toward the develpment of this project or just make a general donation to the vitality of the project. Long Way Home appreciates your contributions and interest in helping make the world a better place.