Westway has a brand-spanking new soccer field thanks to several grants benefiting the Federal Way neighborhood.

The work on a previously-unused field behind the Westway Community Center came from Franciscan’s Youth Violence Prevention Initiative.

The Franciscan Health System sought and received enough grant funding to turn the unused area into a soccer field.

The field will host a grand opening celebration at 1 p.m. at the Westway Community Center on April 6 and will include a free soccer clinic for neighborhood kids at 1:30 p.m. put on by the Federal Way Boys & Girls Club. The community center is located at 33400 21st Ave. SW in Federal Way.

Franciscan is also partnering with the Boys & Girls Club to offer a free spring soccer league on the field for neighborhood youth in kindergarten through the third grade.

Grant funding for the field came from the Seattle Foundation, D.V. and Ida McEachern Charitable Trust, Catholic Health Initiatives and the Franciscan Foundation. The Youth Violence Prevention Initiative is funded with a grant from Catholic Health Initiatives.

Connecting youth to safe places to play and caring adults are two key components to helping youth be safe and successful.

“The creation of the Westway soccer field and the continued use of it by the Westway neighborhood and community partners will provide opportunities for youth to be involved in positive activities for years to come,” said a press release.