The Family Life Park

Preparation for construction began in mid-January and the full project is planned to reach completion in May of 2024.

During the time of construction, programming for Tulakes Community Church and the After School Program will be accommodated. We do not expect any disruption to these programs.

Full Timeline

February 1 Ground Breaking

February 13 Floyd Multipurpose Room Renovation

February 19 Rough Field Grading

March 4 Light Pole Bases

March 4 Rough Irrigation

April 2 Parking / Restriping

April 5 Playground Equipment Installation

April 12 Sidewalks / Paving / Shade Structure

April 19 Fine Field Grading

April 26 Playground Turf / Sodding / Landscaping

*Dates are subject to change*

The plan to acquire property surrounding the church and make it available for expanded ministry has been in place for many years. While the board began considering campus renewal in the spring of 2022, last September, the board voted to conduct a feasibility study.

Can we transfer the sports fields from our property on Rockwell, NW 36th and Divis?

What changes would make the parking lots and the entrances to our buildings more user-friendly?

Can we create a highly usable green space, a park-like campus for seven-days-a-week ministry?

A long-term, multi-year plan resulted, addressing the goals of the study. We have moved forward with Phase One of the long term plan for campus renewal, placing high priority on moving the sports fields and creating a multifunctional park.

The budget for Phase One is $2.5 million. The Bethany Place Foundation has made a generous donation to Phase One Campus Renewal. With the faithful giving from the BFC congregation, we have been able to build cash reserves which round out the budget for the project. We will not be raising funds for Phase One.

The heart of BFC ministry is relational. In our planning of the Family Life Park, we are being intentional in creating programs and an environment that encourages relationships.

We have designed gathering spaces throughout the park - places for being with others. We will build excellent quality sports fields which follow along with the Family Life Center basketball courts as quality spaces for outreach through sports. The stories are rich of families finding God and new life through basketball - right next to our primary church programs and facilities. The same can be said of outdoor sports, even more so with the Family Life Park.

Being relational is always about people opening their arms, building relationships and telling our stories. We know full well that buildings and grassy fields do not win and disciple others, but we believe that a dedicated Family Life Park becomes a tool for us to use with God’s leading in our shared vision to - by all means - win and disciple others.

Our sports programs are built around giving children of all skill levels the opportunity to play, learn sportsmanship, have fun AND build relationships that share Jesus! Our prayer is that every child and family will find belonging in the Family Life Park. As families participate, we can add value to their lives and bless them.

The Family Life Park creates an opportunity for us to reach out to the open community with new programs.

From the very beginning of the vision for renewing our campus, this has been a concern. Each piece of property purchased over the past 60 years has been earmarked for expansion of the ministry as God leads. Over time, the church has been able to offer temporary, below-market leases to a few people. We are grateful to have been able to serve temporary needs. Everyone affected has already been settled into new locations.

BFC owns the property bordered on the south by NW 39th Expressway, on the west by Beaver, on the north by the mid-block alley to Mueller, then on the north by NW 42nd Street, and on the east by Asbury – with two exceptions. BFC does not own one home on NW 41st Street and the medical/dental office and parking lot at the corner of NW 39th Expy and Mueller.

The current fields are in serious disrepair, accessible navigation is non-existent, restrooms are not serviceable or safe, and parking is on the road. When the fields are on campus, the sports program will be identified with BFC and its other ministries, rather than distant and unrelated to the church. The Family Life Park offers much more in gathering spaces, creating many opportunities for living out the BFC open arms message to the community.

Three primary fields will accommodate t-ball and baseball for 1) T-ball and coach pitch baseball for co-ed teams for 5-11 year olds, with games played on Tuesdays and Thursdays and practice Saturday mornings from May-June; and 2) Mighty Mites T-ball for co-ed teams for 3-4 year olds, with one practice and three games on Saturday mornings from August-September.

Seasonally, the fields convert to soccer fields for 1) co-ed teams 5-11 year olds with weekly practice and games on Saturday mornings from September-November; and 2) Mighty Mites outdoor soccer for co-ed teams for 3-4 year olds, with one practice and three games on Saturday mornings from March-April.

With the opening of the Family Life Park, BFC will be reaching out to community residents, inviting them to join us in our organized sports programs. In addition, the after school program will be enhanced by the Family Life Park which is open to children in the Bethany community. There will also be scheduled open park programs. We envision the play and gathering areas being open for the community. For example, offering programs like “Sunday in the Park” (1pm to dusk) and “Summer Fridays in the Park” (3pm to dusk) and “Play Date in the Park” Tuesdays and Thursdays (9am to 2pm.) One vision is to have a quarterly “Family Night” (similar to our annual block party) with whole park activities for all ages. As the park develops over the coming months, new programs and schedules will be fully planned, refined and communicated to the BFC community at large.

BFC does own the current ball field property, and we will continue to use these fields until the new sod is well rooted.

The current fields are in serious disrepair, accessible navigation is non-existent, restrooms are not serviceable or safe, and parking is on the road. When the fields are on campus, the sports program will be identified with BFC and its other ministries, rather than distant and unrelated to the church. The Family Life Park offers much more in gathering spaces, creating many opportunities for living out the BFC open arms message to the community.

Our goal is to open the new park in Fall of 2024 in time for fall sports. The fields will likely be sold after the games move to the church campus.