Local Firms Build Youth Facility In Anaheim

McCarthy Building Companies, Inc., along with 33 subcontractors and suppliers, recently completed construction of a 25,000 square foot athletic facility for GOALS (Growth Opportunities through Athletics, Learning and Service) youth program. Called “The GOALS Dreamscape,” the athletic facility is located in north central Anaheim, CA adjacent to GOALS existing headquarters.

The GOALS Dreamscape facility
The GOALS Dreamscape facility

“Almost half a million dollars of in-kind technical services, labor, equipment, and building materials were contributed in order to bring this new venue from a dream to a reality,” said GOALS executive director Dave Wilk. “The outpouring of generosity combined with the quality of construction especially in these tough economic times has been an amazing experience for our staff, volunteers, and of course, the children.”

Donated entirely by local businesses and the city of Anaheim, which provided the land, along with support and guidance from the United States Tennis Association and Southern California Tennis Association, the athletic facility features: two full-size, lit tennis courts; a 6,000 square foot artificial turf arena for multiple sports; 100 meter warm up walking/jogging track surrounding arena; 440 meter circumferential walking/jogging fitness track; a fruit and vegetable “GOALS Garden” which will be planted and tended by GOALS children; an adjoining indoor workout center for aerobic and anaerobic fitness; and a 1,500 square foot “mini court” for additional sports play.

Children receive direction from lacrosse coaches at the new Dreamscape facility.
Children receive direction from lacrosse coaches at the new Dreamscape facility.

“The project began in 2008 when the City of Anaheim agreed to give GOALS the chance to attract development support for a vacant parcel of nearby land,” explained Wilk. GOALS board member Tom Tait from Tait and Associates provided more than $65,000 of engineering and architectural support to propel the project. McCarthy donated more than $120,000 to the project and formed the subcontracting team that provided another $150,000 in goods and services. The team went on to complete the facility within eight months. The U.S. Tennis Association worked with AmeriCorps Vista volunteers to create the design of the tennis courts.

Said Tait, “The GOALS program was conceived with one act of kindness by Disneyland over 17 years ago, and this initial benevolence has become contagious among the GOALS staff and volunteers as well as through the longtime support of companies like McCarthy and the subcontractors who have helped make this project a reality.”

The project’s contributors, dubbed “The Dream Team” by GOALS, included: McCarthy Building Companies, The City of Anaheim, Tait & Associates, United States Tennis Association, Southern California Tennis Association, SOCALGEO Soil Engineering, The Murray Company, Ahern, J.B. Lumber, Anaheim Disposal, Bapko, Berg Electric, Premiere Engineering, United Rentals, Nolan’s Equipment Rentals, Crown Fence, Conco Pumping, Cal Portland, GPS Painting, J&M, CEMEX, Catalina Pacific/Cal Portland, Rebar Engineering, Western Paving, White Cap, Shaw & Sons, Athletica, Preferred Paving, H&E Rentals, NJP Sports, Zaino Tennis Courts, PlexiPave, LA Steelcraft, Precision Surfacing, Schmitz Foam Products, DOMO Turf and FlexSand.