A New Hub for Soccer and Community
Seattle Sounders FC, the RAVE Foundation, and the Puyallup Tribe of Indians have unveiled a new soccer park in Tacoma, turning the former Gault Middle School grounds into a vibrant community hub that celebrates both sport and local heritage.
The facility features two professional‑grade turf fields equipped with lighting, enabling year‑round use, and the surfaces can be merged into a single larger field to accommodate expanded programming and events.
Named wɘlɘx w ildubutali in the Twulshootseed language, the park means “place to make yourself strong,” a title chosen to honor the cultural ties of the region and to inspire participants.
A ceremonial blessing led by Chief Leschi Schools Drum & Dance marked the inauguration, underscoring the spiritual connection to the land while highlighting the park’s role as a regional training center for blind athletes.
Ashley Fosberg, chief impact and fan engagement officer for Sounders & Reign FC and executive director of RAVE, emphasized the shared values that have sustained the partnership since 2021, noting that the space will foster learning, career discovery, and belonging for Indigenous youth.
Beyond recreation, the park is designed to serve as a catalyst for creative expression and community connection, offering adaptive soccer programming that welcomes participants of all abilities and backgrounds.