Name of business: Golden Gloves Futbol Farm

Type of business: Soccer fields

Location: 2100 W. Linwood, Turlock

Hours: Available to rent 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week

Contact information: 209-484-5101

Specialty: Well-lit fields

History of business:

Since his days in college, Mitchell Watson has wanted to provide accessible soccer fields to Turlock residents who are passionate about the sport. Through his nonprofit organization Golden Gloves Soccer, that idea has become a reality with the recent opening of the Golden Gloves Futbol Farm.

“It’s been on my heart to do something like this for the community,” Watson said. “Soccer is certainly a growing sport here, and our goal is to provide a positive atmosphere for families and the community to come together through the sport.”

Already, the site is proving to be a place where the community can gather. Golden Gloves Futbol Farm celebrated its grand opening on Friday, welcoming Turlockers to its four new soccer fields with free food, drinks, games, bounce houses and an inaugural match.

Golden Gloves Soccer purchased the land for the fields, which was first used for livestock animals, in January, and the group has been working hard since to prepare the fields for play. The nonprofit was one of 10 organizations to receive a Safe Places to Play grant from the U.S. Soccer Foundation, which will be used to install sprinklers at the fields.

The location is available for any soccer team or individuals to rent and portable lights will also allow renters to play or practice at night, which is much-needed during the winter, Watson said.

“Going into winter there aren’t a lot of lighted fields in Turlock, so we’re trying to meet that need,” he said.

Watson has already reached out to local teams like Turlock’s professional soccer team, Academica, and its youth club affiliate, Academica Juniors, to let them know there are now additional fields in Turlock should they need somewhere to play or practice. He hopes that other local teams will utilize the field as well.

“We wanted to provide soccer fields and access to fields to whoever wants it,” he said. “We’re not associated with just one club or team — it’s for anybody and everybody.”

Those interested in renting a field at Golden Gloves Futbol Farm can visit www.turlockoutdoorsoccer.simplybook.me/v2/ where there are 7 versus 7, 9 versus 9 and 11 versus 11 fields available. Rates range from $25 per hour for smaller fields to $30 per hour for larger fields.