Foundation seeks funds to keep soccer field open

Rich May Field needs up to $700,000 by June

EAST PALO ALTO >> When it opened last April, Rich May Field became the city’s first all-weather soccer rugby park in the city, named after an East Palo Alto police officer killed in the line of duty 12 years ago.

And, though corporate sponsors and individual donors have contributed $1.6 million for the field, the Rich May Foundation said it needs another $500,000 to $700,000 to keep the park open and complete the project. So, it’s reaching out to the community to fill the gap.

About 16 teams use the field, with new features added along the way. In February, 50-foot high field lights were installed, allowing players to use the park an additional two to three hours in the evening.

The field and restrooms are fully operational, but to stay open past June, the city is requiring the foundation to pay for a traffic study, create a driveway and turnaround area in the parking lot, install gates and add landscaping and other features to reduce glare from the field lights. A memorial garden with a patio built from roughly 250 donor bricks is also planned.

“We are reaching out to ask you to help us, again, in finishing this completely public-funded, noble project; a fitting memorial for a police officer who committed his life to community service and was passionate about helping kids,” a foundation statement dated April 20 said.

People interested in donating can do so by visiting www.richmayfoundation.org and clicking on the yellow Donate button.