Palma Schools’ New Edward M. Dowd Sports Performance Center is currently under construction and is scheduled to open in March 2027
A Major Investment in Palma Athletics
SALINAS, Calif. - The Edward M. Dowd Foundation has awarded a significant grant to Palma School to support the development of a new sports performance center on the school's Salinas campus. The grant from the Edward M. Dowd Foundation builds upon Mr. Dowd’s long-standing support of Palma School.
The Edward M. Dowd Sports Performance Center will be a 10,000-square-foot facility serving all 664 Palma students, staff, and 26 co-educational varsity sports that train year-round. There are 3,850 square feet of this building dedicated to a training facility, which will include state-of-the-art weight, cardio, and body mobility systems large enough to serve 70-80 student-athletes at one time.
This building will also house a full-time strength and conditioning coach to work with student/athletes throughout the day. Two additional offices are designated for coaches and an operations manager, who oversees the sports performance building, the fields, and the rest of the campus. The facility includes restrooms for students and the public, along with two locker rooms that can hold 100 athletes at a time for field sports.
“The new center will significantly enhance Palma's sports facilities, providing students with improved spaces for training, competition, and team activities,” said Palma’s President Chris Dalman. “The project builds upon Palma's long tradition of athletic excellence and will provide an important resource for the school's growing student population.”
A MAJOR INVESTMENT IN PALMA ATHLETICS
The $5.5 million grant builds upon the Foundation's long-standing support of Palma School. Ed's connection to Palma continued throughout his life. The Foundation has previously supported significant improvements to Palma's sports facilities, including the renovation of the school's gym, which was named the Edward M. Dowd Gymnasium. The new sports performance center represents another important chapter in that legacy.
The significant investment reflects the Foundation's commitment to supporting opportunities for young people throughout the communities connected to Ed Dowd's life and legacy.
“Throughout his life, Ed never forgot where he came from, and he believed in the importance of giving back and creating opportunities for the next generation,” said the Foundation’s President and CEO, Jim Dowd. “This capital grant is an opportunity to honor his legacy by investing in Palma students and creating facilities that will benefit generations of young people.”
To learn more about Palma School, go to https://www.palmaschool.org. For information about the Edward M. Dowd Foundation, visit https://edwardmdowdfoundation.org.
MEDIA CONTACTS
Esmeralda Owen
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Precious Stone PR Inc.
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Lisa Kincaid
Director of Communications
Edward M. Dowd Foundation