By Shannon Lukens.  Courtesy photos.

 

The fields at Heritage Park have been donated to the Steamboat Soccer Club from Ty and Betty Lockhart. They will be rehabilitated as a permanent home for sports and recreation. The fields will be renamed Lockhart Fields, and they are just west of Steamboat Springs, next to the Montessori school. There will be two-full-size artificial turf fields with lighting and site improvements, including parking, walkways, seating and storage facilities. 

A press release (below) from Steamboat Soccer Club says, “The project will expand field access by up to 50 percent, extend the outdoor playing season from late February through November, and benefit more than 1,500 youth and adult athletes annually.”

Work is expected to begin next summer.

Press Release from Steamboat Soccer Club; Nov. 6, 2025

 

Ty and Betty Lockhart Donate Heritage Park Fields to Steamboat Soccer Club

Steamboat Soccer Club launches plan to rehabilitate fields into a community hub for sports and recreation

Steamboat Springs, CO – Nov 4, 2025 — Steamboat Soccer Club (SSC) today announced a transformative gift from longtime community members Ty and Betty Lockhart, who have donated the Heritage Park fields to the Club. This extraordinary act of generosity provides SSC with a permanent home after more than 40 years of serving youth and adult athletes throughout the Yampa Valley.

The property, located just west of Steamboat Springs, will be renamed Lockhart Fields. SSC plans to rehabilitate the site with two full-size artificial turf fields, lighting for evening play, and site improvements including parking, walkways, seating, and storage facilities. The project will expand field access by up to 50%, extend the outdoor playing season from late February through November, and benefit more than 1,500 youth and adult athletes annually.

“Betty and I try to make a difference in the lives of children,” said Ty Lockhart, a former coach and tournament director. “SSC provides the sportsmanship, training, camaraderie and the joy of competing at an early age. They are giving kids a lifelong skill. This project will also ensure a place for people of all ages to play for generations to come. Seeing this land come to life again is a dream come true.”

This donation of a $1 million property is the centerpiece of SSC’s new $5 million capital campaign, which aims to create a lasting community asset and a true home for soccer and other field sports in Northwest Colorado. The complex will host recreational and competitive soccer programs, adult leagues, and other community sports, while providing a major boost to local tourism and the regional economy through tournaments and camps.

“This gift from the Lockhart family is nothing short of transformational,” said Linda John, SSC Club Director. “For decades, our biggest challenge has been access to fields during shoulder seasons when snow makes grass fields unplayable. Now, thanks to Ty and Betty’s generosity, we can build a home that brings our community together and keeps kids active, connected, and inspired.”

By expanding access to high-quality, weather resilient fields, the project will also help reduce pressure on city-owned facilities, allowing the Club and the City to implement best-practice maintenance and safety improvements through scheduled rest and rehabilitation periods.

Steamboat Soccer Club currently serves more than 1,000 local youth players each year, supported by a network of dedicated volunteer coaches and families. With Lockhart Fields, SSC will reduce cancellations and expand opportunities for youth development across the Yampa Valley.

The Club aims to break ground on the new facility in the summer of 2026 and is seeking community support to help make the project a reality.
For more information about Lockhart Fields at Heritage Park or to learn how to contribute to the campaign, visit steamboat-soccer.com/lockhart-fields.

 

About Steamboat Soccer Club Founded in 1980, Steamboat Soccer Club is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to building character, teamwork, and community through the game of soccer. Each year, SSC provides programming for more than 1,500 players across recreational and competitive leagues, camps, clinics, and tournaments. The Club’s mission is to ensure that every child in the Yampa Valley has access to safe, affordable, and inspiring opportunities to play.