By Catelyn Di Leva
Opinion Editor
The Mira Costa administration and MBX began the installation of a new $2-million turf field on Meadows Avenue in order to upgrade the current grass field through an initiative known as the Meadows Construction Project. Although the construction has made it more difficult for students to enter the school by Meadows Avenue, the Meadows Project is a necessary measure that will improve the quality of facilities for athletes by implementing new turf and expanding the fields.
The Meadows Construction Project, which was originally supposed to take place in 2010, began on Nov. 17 and is projected to reach completion by the beginning of the 2017-18 school year. In order to ameliorate the situation of the Meadows ramp being closed off, administrators created alternate entrances and exits.
The new turf field will be safer for Costa athletes, as the current grass field is worn from years of use, MBX Foundation President Gary Wayland said. Costa sports teams including football, soccer, rugby, lacrosse, baseball, softball and Marching Band will benefit from the larger field area as scheduling practices will be more flexible. Additionally, newer and higher quality fields will help decrease the number of student injuries, prioritizing students’ health and allowing for a higher quality athletic experience at Costa.
Click here to read about Costa’s Meadows construction and its current status.
In order to deal with the construction, Costa has provided alternative entrances in other areas of the school near Meadows Avenue, such as through the baseball fields or tennis courts, Costa Principal Dr. Ben Dale said. The entrances between the baseball fields and tennis courts provide students who still park on Meadows with entrances that help them enter into school, a sufficient solution to the construction.
Using the funds from the 2008 Measure BB, the District renovated the Mustang Mall in addition to the math and science buildings, and based on his observations, students adapt to restricted movement on campus within 10 days, Dale said. This restricted movement is common during construction projects, and students should be able to modify accordingly.
Photos: Meadows Construction will benefit students and athletes by having safer conditions.
While the construction is inconvenient, students’ adaptability to previous construction provides an example of students’ ability to adjust to such inconveniences.
Click here to see all of MBUSD’s information about Meadows Construction.
Although alternate entrances have been opened around campus, according to a La Vista survey of 200 students, 38% of students who normally park on Meadows Avenue said that the construction has caused them to be late to their first class at least once. Even though substitute entrances are helpful for students because they give students who park on Meadows Avenue a place to enter efficiently into school, clearly it still does not entirely benefit students because some are late due to the difficulties of finding parking and entering campus.
While the construction may be troublesome for many students, the construction is a reality at Costa and whenever there is construction, it will be chaotic and distracting, Dale said. Even if the construction inconveniences Costa students, the new fields will create a safer environment for many of Costa’s sports teams and will benefit many Costa sports teams overall.
Leave a Reply