18 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY December 7-13, 2023 www.montereycountyweekly.com MC GIVES Growing up in Salinas, Jonathan De Anda remembers playing on the fields of the Salinas Regional Soccer Complex when they were more dirt than grass. “It was hard to find a place to practice and play,” he recalls. “The facilities weren’t up to standard. Playing travel soccer, there were teams from the Bay Area that wouldn’t want to come down and play against us.” Now, in his role as the complex’s manager, De Anda is helping to ensure that the next generation has a worldclass facility at their disposal—one equipped with top-caliber grass and synthetic fields, as well as other infrastructure that will make it a state-ofthe-art resource. Though the nonprofit Salinas Regional Sports Authority was formed back in 2008, it took a decade to finalize a lease with the City of Salinas for the 68-acre property at Constitution Boulevard and East Laurel Drive, and to secure the public and private financing needed to commence construction. Work finally began in late 2018 on the project’s $1.5 million first phase— which ripped up the old fields, built a new irrigation system, laid 14 new grass fields, and installed a half-mile walking path and exercise stations. Phase 2 broke ground earlier this year and is split into two parts. The $8 million Phase 2A will bring two full-size, synthetic soccer fields that will allow the complex to operate yearround, plus more than 400 new parking spots and a new entrance/exit on Constitution Boulevard. De Anda says $2 million of the $3 million needed for Phase 2B has already been raised—with another $1 million required to begin work on 2,500 bleacher seats, nighttime floodlights and a scoreboard. Further out, the $5 million Phase 3 would include seven more grass fields, plus a sand court that could accommodate 16 beach volleyball courts. Last but not least, the $16 million Phase 4 would build five multipurpose courts allowing tennis, basketball, futsal and pickleball, as well as a two-story fieldhouse with an indoor soccer field, a cafeteria, and space to house afterschool programs, a day care, and a mental health and wellness center. “Soccer is at the core of it, but it’s a facility and organization that does a lot more than soccer,” De Anda says. “It’s a resource to enrich peoples’ lives through physical activity.” SALINAS REGIONAL SOCCER COMPLEX Kicking Off The Salinas Regional Soccer Complex is well underway— but more funding is needed for future phases. By Rey Mashayekhi Phase 1 of the Salinas Regional Soccer Complex was completed in 2019, and the fields are now used by competitive and recreational youth and adult players alike. How to Donate Go to www.mcgives.com and click the Donate button. The Heartwarming Impact of Read to Me Project The magic of the Read to Me Project is illuminated by what participating 4th, 5th, and 6th graders say about their experiences while reading to the pre-schoolers at home. They are shining a light into their homes for us to see how Read to Me Project is setting young lives on course for a lifetime of equitable opportunities. Aldo was always watching TV. When I started reading to him, he started identifying animals and tries to say the scientific names. He loves animals and books and singing with me. Aldo is more adventurous now and is learning more. He’s thinking about new things he’s learned and wants to do them. If we read a book with a firefighter, he wants to be a firefighter. - 4th grader reads to her 4-year-old brother My little sister wants me to read the book a lot of times and then when I say I don’t want to anymore, she gives the book to my mom for her to read it. My mom is learning to read new words just like my sister. - 4th grader reads to her 2-year-old sister Please support early literacy. Your generosity will be percentage matched by donating through Montereycountygives.coM/read Readtomeproject.org
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