Phillips 66’s new world headquarters sits nestled into Westchase District just off Beltway 8 and will become home to 2,200 employees when it opens for move-in on July 18th.
Phillips 66 Soccer Park was previously known as Northwest Soccer Park but now operates and maintains without taxpayer funding under its new name, Phillips 66 Soccer Park. A donation from Ferndale Refinery enabled this name change. A nonprofit corporation manages and maintains this facility on an ongoing basis without incurring taxpayer costs for the operation or upkeep of this facility.
Whatcom County’s Premier Soccer Facility
Phillips 66 Soccer Park in Bellingham is one of the state’s premier soccer facilities, boasting nine full-sized grass soccer fields and two lighted artificial turf fields for youth and adult soccer programs in Whatcom County, as well as regional tournaments such as Baker Blast throughout summer months. Additionally, it is overseen by Whatcom Sports and Recreation which operates as a non-profit organization.
Bellingham residents and visitors to Bellingham alike will find numerous advantages to using the soccer complex, from businesses sponsoring leagues to events and fundraisers for community benefit. Furthermore, there are youth and adult soccer leagues held here and the facility provides space for practice and training sessions as well as providing hikers a short trail for use.
Soccer is a trendy sport in Bellingham, and youth are encouraged to begin participating from an early age. Multiple organizations provide recreational and competitive leagues for children in the area; registration may be limited, so if your child wants to play, make sure you register them early and ensure you have all the necessary equipment.
Phillips 66 Soccer Park is home to Whatcom County Youth Soccer Association, offering both recreational and competitive soccer for young people. Established in 1986 by a group of soccer enthusiasts, they now operate under Whatcom Sports & Recreation (WSR), an all-volunteer board organization with its mission being the development, operation, and maintenance of athletic facilities of superior standard for the benefit of the community. All their facilities are free to use – this nonprofit accepts no taxpayer funds at all!
Located in Bellingham
Phillips 66 Soccer Park is one of the state’s most advanced soccer facilities. Boasting nine full-sized grass fields of high quality as well as two lighted turf fields for youth and adult recreational soccer programs, its nine full-size pitches and two lit turf surfaces are owned and managed by Whatcom Sports and Recreation (WSR), a non-profit organization dedicated to creating and maintaining top quality athletic facilities that serve Whatcom County citizens.
Phillips 66 Soccer Park also offers other recreational programs, including hockey and figure skating academies for both kids and adults through Blazers Hockey Club and Bellingham Ice Arena, respectively, with each offering lessons and league play for beginner hockey players and figure skaters. In addition to sports facilities, this facility features offices/storage areas/meeting rooms to meet local organizations’ needs.
Recently, the facility received an upgrade thanks to a $700,000 donation from Phillips 66 Ferndale Refinery and a $2 million grant from Washington state. These donations will allow the facility to install artificial turf fields, lights, and scoreboards; construction should be complete by early summer.
As well as its newly renovated soccer fields, the park provides runners with an ideal running trail through a meadow between the Public Works building and baseball fields, offering stunning views of Mount Baker from above.
This park is open to all players, however there is a $20 fee per field collected at Northwest Drive’s field entrance. In addition, there is also a concession stand providing food and drinks.
Features 11 Regulation Soccer Fields
With nine grass and two artificial turf fields, the soccer park provides plenty of room for various forms of games and activities. You’re likely to see youth and adult soccer, lacrosse, ultimate frisbee or specialty camps being held there at any given time.
Soccer park also hosts several tournaments throughout the year. One such game, known as the Route 66 Tournament, draws top youth teams from across local, regional, and national markets to compete.
In February 2016, Whatcom County Council unanimously approved an extension for Whatcom Sports and Recreation for 20 years in exchange for a $700,000 donation from Phillips 66 Ferndale Refinery that will fund resurfacing two synthetic fields at Whatcom Sports and Recreation facility and installing lighting. Construction should be complete by summer 2017.
Open to the Public
Location: Northwest Drive and Smith Road in Bellingham Located near Northwest Drive and Smith Road in Bellingham, Phillips 66 Soccer Park serves over 10,000 players from Whatcom County Youth Soccer Association and Whatcom County Adult Soccer Association. Recently upgraded with two artificial turf fields, lights, scoreboard, public-private partnership financing of the project. The park was named Phillips 66 Soccer Park to recognize generous donations by Ferndale refinery of Ferndale Refinery as well as their naming rights donation to the facility.
Phillips 66 Soccer Park is managed and maintained by Whatcom Sports and Recreation (WSR), a non-profit corporation dedicated to developing recreational facilities that serve Whatcom County residents’ needs. WSR built this facility through grants, fundraising events and user fees; additionally they run Bellingham Sportsplex within Civic Field complex.
WSR currently leases its soccer park from Whatcom County, and operates and maintains it without using taxpayer funding for operations or maintenance costs. In order to expand their facility and programs further, WSR is currently seeking grant funds as they seek grant opportunities for the expansion of both facilities.
Licensed by the State of Washington
Northwest Soccer Park will soon expand to include two artificial turf fields equipped with lights and scoreboard, thanks to funding from both the state legislature and Phillips 66’s Ferndale refinery. Whatcom Sports & Recreation will use $2 million from the state budget combined with $700,000.000 from Ferndale refinery in Ferndale to construct these new fields; WSR leases their facilities from Whatcom County but operate them themselves through WSR as a nonprofit corporation providing recreational services without taxpayer contributions.
WSR was formed in 1986 as the Whatcom Soccer Commission to create, operate and sustain youth and adult recreational soccer programs within Whatcom County. Since that time, WSR has expanded and developed its soccer park through grants, fundraiser events, user fees, and sponsorships.
Phillips 66 has agreed to contribute an extra $1 Million over 20 years towards maintaining the soccer park it now renames; its renaming will take effect immediately and is located near Northwest Drive and Smith Road.
