Mendoza: For our kids, the county fairgrounds vote is about more than just soccer

Growing up in East San Jose, it filled me with pride last year to sign my first professional soccer contract at the age of 17 with my hometown San Jose Earthquakes. That said, I’ve been able to witness firsthand the importance of having access to quality fields in our community, which are critical for our youth to help them develop as people and players.

The road from my house in Mt. Pleasant to PayPal Park is just 20 minutes, but it might as well have been 20,000 given some of the obstacles in my way to become a pro. When I began my soccer journey, I spent countless hours dreaming of playing for the Quakes, but one significant barrier threatened to impede my progress: the lack of safe and accessible fields for practice.

The unfortunate reality is we have a shortage of adequate public fields in Santa Clara County. Today, many kids here endure the same challenges I faced. They shouldn’t have to sneak under high school fences or search for empty lots like my friends and I did just to find a good place to kick a soccer ball. Staying physically fit and active was critical to keeping kids in our community like me off the streets, and that hasn’t changed.

Consider the current state of our neighborhood. For many families, the nearest park is miles away. In a city as vibrant and diverse as San Jose, this is unacceptable. We need safe fields to play on, where kids can work on not only their athletic skills, but also important life lessons like teamwork and perseverance.

Next Tuesday, the Santa Clara Board of Supervisors will vote on the proposed eight-field training complex at the fairgrounds, which represents a golden opportunity to address this pressing need. By creating four high-quality soccer fields for the public to use — while upgrading existing infrastructure for the Earthquakes’ professional and youth academy teams with the other four fields — we can inspire future generations of local kids. This investment in our community’s sporting facilities isn’t just about soccer, it’s about creating spaces where children can gather, play and thrive.

Imagine a facility where kids can practice on the fields right next to their heroes. Training alongside their soccer idols would no longer be a dream, but a tangible experience like no other place in America. This vision can become a reality with the eight-field complex at the fairgrounds. In addition, such commitment would not only solidify the Quakes’ ties to San Jose, but also show our county’s dedication to the youth of Northern California, especially with the FIFA World Cup coming here in 2026. This is a win-win project for San Jose and Santa Clara County.

In the face of these challenges, I urge our local leaders and community members to rally behind the fairgrounds project. Investing in our youth’s athletic fields sends a powerful message that we believe in their potential. We must ensure that every child, regardless of their background or ZIP code, has access to safe, inviting spaces to play the sport they love.

As a professional athlete who once ran the same San Jose streets as our future stars, I’m an example of the power of sports. Let’s work together to ensure that every young player in San Jose has the opportunity to dream big, play hard and achieve success in soccer — but more importantly, in life.

Together, we can create a legacy of excellence in soccer that will resonate for generations to come. To the county of board of supervisors, please vote to approve this project.

Edwyn Mendoza is a midfielder for the San Jose Earthquakes. He was born and raised in the Mt. Pleasant neighborhood of East San Jose.