Brookfield Elementary unveils HUGE new America SCORES Field of Dreams
The transformation of a vast asphalt playground at Brookfield Elementary School in East Oakland into a verdant field of green took more than a village – it took an ecosystem of partnerships and an intentional collaboration of devoted players working together to take America SCORES’ biggest step in its Field of Dreams Asphalt-to-Turf initiative, which turns underutilized asphalt spaces into vibrant green fields for play, learning, and community-building.
The grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony for the 35,000 square-foot new turf field at Brookfield Elementary kicked off before a cheering crowd that included Oakland Unified School District and city government leaders, professional soccer team representatives, educators, and community champions. As part of the festivities, several of the SCORES Brookfield Poet-Athletes read poems inspired by the new field.
The new field will have broad impact immediately, and will be used for recess and PE classes and afterschool sports programs like America SCORES. Starting next spring, the new field will be home to the weekend game-day events with schools from around Oakland.
Who made it happen alongside America SCORES?
A coalition of parties came together to bring the field to life. OUSD led the effort to unite multiple district departments to secure funding for the project, including YES! Sports, part of OUSD’s Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELOP). The San Jose Earthquakes further cemented their partnership with SCORES, contributing funds for new goals. Coming in with hometown love, the Oakland Roots & Soul helped pay for a temporary field for Brookfield’s students during the effort to secure the much larger permanent field. Individuals and families joined the fundraising effort as well.
Celebrating the field’s opening were: Mike Hutchinson, Vice President of OUSD School Board; Oakland Councilmember (D-7) Treva Reid; Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao; Robert Davis, Vice President of Community Relations of SJ Earthquakes; Nelda Kerr, Director of Community Engagement of Oakland Roots, among many others, including the thrilled Brookfield school community.
The Brookfield turf field opened after a multi-year effort that saw Brookfield narrowly escape a school closure. The new field is part of a larger campaign to invest in the school and the East Oakland community.
For Oakland this is only the beginning, says America SCORES Executive Director Colin Schmidt. “There are too many children still playing sports on asphalt. It’s not safe, it’s ugly, and it’s depressing. We need to build more fields all over Oakland.”
“It’s Oakland’s time.”
Corrin Haskell has worked at Brookfield as a teacher and coach for 28 years, inspiring generations of students, nearly all of whom have had to play on a hard, unforgiving asphalt surface made for parking cars not playing children. For Haskell, the need for a beautiful and safe alternative playing field for students has been clear for decades, as has the new field's message. “In the classroom, on the field, and in the community, this field gives them a sense of pride in themselves, their team, and in the whole school. It’s a community esteem booster for everyone.”
Councilmember Treva Ried quickly understood the need for a field that could provide both play space and programming to Brookfield students and the surrounding community, becoming an early advocate of the project. “Today we celebrate our kids dreaming, living, thriving, winning, and playing in a place that belongs to all of them.”
Multiple media outlets were on hand to capture the story, including Telemundo 48, NBC, KRON 4, and ABC 7.
And finally, a composite video put together by SCORES’ own Justin Calderon with interviews of many of the movers and shakers who helped bring the Brookfield pitch to life. Watch it and understand what a game-changer one brilliant field of green can be for students and the surrounding community.