Several new multipurpose recreation courts are coming to Des Moines Public Schools with help from Caitlin Clark and her foundation.
The Caitlin Clark Foundation announced Tuesday that four new soccer and basketball community courts will be installed at schools within DMPS. The courts will be located at:
“Providing every student at DMPS with greater access to activities and athletics, along with the first-rate facilities they deserve, is an important part of our strategic plan to reimagine education in Des Moines,” DMPS Superintendent Ian Roberts said in a news release.
Weather permitting, the facility at Weeks Middle School is scheduled to open later in the spring, with the remaining facilities expected to be completed by the end of summer, said Phil Roeder, a district spokesperson.
The Musco Mini-Pitch System courts are provided by Musco Lighting, a company headquartered in Oskaloosa that makes and installs lights and other infrastructure used at sports venues worldwide.
“It’s an investment into the future of our kids,” Musco Lighting CEO Jeff Rogers told the Register. “Projects like this are cool when you can pull a group of people together for a common cause, and Caitlin’s foundation and Des Moines Public Schools are focused and working hard on trying to provide a better opportunity for kids.”
Each Mini-Pitch System is 60 feet by 84 feet in size and is equipped with built-in soccer goals, basketball hoops, lighting, benches and more. Rogers said the total cost of the four courts is more than $500,000.
“The Caitlin Clark Foundation is thrilled to be a partner in delivering these sports systems to the Des Moines schools and the greater community,” Caitlin Clark Foundation President Mary Coffin said in a news release. “Sports activities provided by these courts help develop connections, foster teamwork, and improve communication.
“These are essential skills that complement the education journey and will have an impact beyond the court experience.”
The four Mini-Pitch Systems coming to DMPS will be the latest collaboration with Musco Lighting and the school district. Musco Lighting most recently installed a Mini-Pitch System at Merrill Middle School in November 2023.
Last August, Caitlin Clark surprised Des Moines students with school supplies as part of her foundation’s “Back To School Backpacks” initiative. Clark’s sponsors joined her for this give-back, including Nike supplying backpacks stuffed with school supplies and Gatorade giving students water bottles.
Cooper Worth is a service/trending reporter for the Des Moines Register. Reach him at cworth@gannett.com or follow him on X @CooperAWorth.
