School News

New York Cosmos plan for Elmont school comes up short

Clara H. Carlson Elementary project fails to meet funding goal

Posted

A plan to transform an underused basketball court on the grounds of Clara H. Carlson Elementary School, in Elmont, by professional soccer team the New York Cosmos has failed to reach its funding goal.

The project, which would have converted the court into an all-weather soccer pitch, was a joint effort by the Cosmos and Street Soccer USA, a nonprofit organization focused on creating recreational space in underserved areas.

To partially fund the project, the two entities opted to use the crowd-funding website sponsorise.me. The initial amount requested for the project was $98,700. Cosmos Chief Operating Officer Erik Stover said that construction would be completed this summer, but the project raised less than half of its goal, with 30 backers contributing $41,110, and was canceled. The backers are not charged for their contributions unless the project meets its funding goal, a spokesman for sponsorise.me explained.


“We were disappointed that our initial fundraising efforts fell short, proving to be more difficult than we expected,” Stover said. “We were hopeful to hit that goal, which would have allowed us to start the construction of the court while we sourced additional funds to run the ongoing programs.”

The Cosmos organization had made donations to the project as well, Stover said, and members of the Cosmos would have participated in athletics programs with the children.

But the team is not abandoning the project, he said. The Cosmos plan to restart the fundraising effort at the end of the North American Soccer League season in November. The Elmont Board of Education discussed the project this year, and the Cosmos will work with the board on the best way to move forward, Stover said.

“The Cosmos’ and Street Soccer USA’s commitment to the school community is unwavering, and the district appreciates their engagement,” said school board President Michael Jaime. “The board always seeks to improve school buildings and grounds when fiscally prudent, and in matters of maintaining a safe environment for our students and faculty.”

Jaime and other members of the Elmont community support the Cosmos’ plan to build a 25,000-seat arena on the south parking lot of Belmont Park. Though it was discussed, the board did not formally vote on giving the Cosmos authorization to refurbish the area. According to Elmont School District Superintendent Al Harper, the Cosmos presented their plan to the board, but it was his understanding that the basketball courts were not part of the project.

“We had a presentation from the Cosmos about putting [in] some sort of soccer field,” Harper said, “however, it did not in any way, shape or form involve the basketball courts.” 

Moving forward 

Though the fundraising efforts came up short, Jaime said he was confident that the Cosmos would eventually be able to secure the funds. “No worthwhile project always succeeds on its first attempt,” he said. “As a school board trustee, I have learned to always rethink the initial plan and capitalize on the successes of the first fundraiser.”


Some community leaders in Elmont oppose not only the Cosmos’ stadium proposal, but also their relationship with the school board. Elmont Library Trustee Tammie Williams, who is also a member of the Parkhurst Civic Association, has organized rallies criticizing the team’s plan for Belmont.

Williams cited the lack of demand for a second youth soccer program in the area, in addition to the Elmont Youth Soccer Program. “Nobody’s thinking about the kids,” she said. “What are you going to do? Pull the kids from the Youth Soccer Program to play on school basketball courts? It’s like you’re trying to buy the community.”

According to Jaime, the Cosmos project would be a service to both the community and district students, and its completion would benefit the area. “The board always seeks to improve school buildings and grounds when fiscally prudent, and in matters of maintaining a safe environment for our students and faculty,” he said.

Supporters of the Cosmos defended their relationship with the community and their motives for developing a soccer pitch on the grounds of the elementary school.

“Here’s a team that’s willing to work with the kids and the schools in the community,” said Patrick Nicolosi, president of the East End Civic Association. “Why wouldn’t you want that versus a Costco, where you’d have to pull your hair [out] to get them to clean up the property?”

Two other developers vying for the south lot of Belmont have proposed building a Costco on the site. Nicolosi, who sits on the Elmont Library board with Williams, has been an ardent supporter of the Cosmos bid, and spoke at a rally in support of the team on May 3.

Though the franchise has been criticized for its intentions and its reasons for transforming an underused recreation area in Elmont, Stover said, it is devoted to the area and to engaging kids in youth sports. “We support a number of community projects across the New York metropolitan area,” he said. “Community service and philanthropy are cornerstones of our organization, and we will continue to work to be community leaders.”