Construction is underway at Worthington Park, where the city of Madison is improving the walking path and adding a futsal court.

According to Brian Kowalski, a park planner for the city’s Parks Division, the project aims to update existing stormwater drainage infrastructure, add a lighted futsal court and rebuild the east/west path through the park.

Kowalski said futsal, a variation of soccer that is played on a hard surface with a heavier ball, allows for year-round use unlike playing soccer on a grass field.

“There was also an emphasis of locating the courts in traditionally underserved areas currently served by Neighborhood Resource Teams,” he said. “Additionally, leaders in the Darbo-Worthington community have just recently started to program youth soccer games, so we think this will be a great addition for the neighborhood and allow for a permanent playable space that is available when the field in Worthington Park is still too wet to play in the fall and spring.”

The project, announced by the city Aug. 1, 2025, will place the futsal court on the southwest field of Worthington Park. This court will be the third of its kind in Madison after a futsal court was installed in 2024 at Penn Park on the south side and a second was constructed in 2025 at Country Grove Park on the southwest side.

Kowalski said that the court at Penn Park is reserved regularly and features adult tournaments, while the court at Country Grove Park had immediate large-group reservations after it opened.

“Futsal is becoming a very popular sport within the community,” Kowalski said. “We anticipate that this will be well received by the community and are excited to see it completed.”

Hawk Sullivan, director of operations at Capital East Soccer Club, said building things for kids to do anywhere and anytime — such as the futsal court at Worthington Park — is a good thing because it keeps kids active.

“I will say, if you want to play a high level of soccer, it’s important to have those foot skills,” Sullivan said. “Any extra space that you can go do an activity like that, it works a little different (muscle) movement.”

According to the city, the walking path and the futsal court are expected to be completed by Sept. 4.

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