Minnesota United and the U.S. Soccer Foundation have unveiled the first in a series of “mini-pitches” in St. Paul — hard-surface play areas installed over underused outdoor basketball and tennis courts or other lots.

Representatives of the Major League Soccer team, the soccer foundation and MLS Works joined St. Paul Parks and Rec officials on Friday at St. Clair Park-West 7th Community Center to debut the city’s first outdoor mini-pitch, or futsal court.

The mini-pitch, branded with the local pro soccer team’s colors and logo, covers an old basketball court that had fallen into disrepair.

Another mini-pitch will replace a Hamline Park tennis court at Thomas and Snelling avenues.

The Soccer Foundation’s goal is to encourage interest in soccer through pickup games, as well as organized youth soccer programs, especially in low-income and underserved areas. Youth soccer participants from the West 7th Community Center summer program attended the debut.