What's Happening in Lansing, MI…

The Beacon Soccer Field, located in downtown Lansing, is set for its grand opening

Members of two soccer teams—the Michigan State University’s (MSU) men's soccer team, and Lansing United—will take part in the festivities.

The facility is in Ferris Park, and boasts a field of artificial turf and illumination from solar-powered lighting, and is surrounded by a kick board. The field cost $200,000, $60,000 of which was raised by the field's organizers via the crowdfunding site Patronicity. A program run by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation matched the $60,000, and Lansing contributed $80,000, taken from its fund for park improvement.

Since the crowdfunding raised more than its stated goal of $50,000, the extra $10,000 will be used to maintain the field.

More than three million young people in the United States, and more than 90,000 in Michigan, paid to play soccer last year. There are approximately 5,000 kids in the Lansing area who play, but many more cannot afford the fees. Beacon Soccer Field will let kids play free all the time.

The ceremony is set for tomorrow, September 2, at 5:30 pm. The fun will include demonstrations of their soccer skills by MSU players, plus a soccer ball giveaway.

Field organizers could work with a banner printing company to create festive flags and streamers to hang over the field's entrance to celebrate the opening.