By Naomi Tsuang
Online News Editor
Mira Costa’s Meadows field is currently in phase one of two in its reconstruction, which consists of building a new turf field, and is expected to be completed by the beginning of the 2017-18 school year.
The Manhattan Beach Unified School District is funding the first phase, which costs approximately $357,500 and began construction on Nov. 17. Construction consists of constructing fire and security roads, relocating utilities, building retaining walls to hold back earth and water before the second phase of construction, the building of the turf field, begins in the spring.
“My conversations with the district are that things are going well [with construction] and nothing has been found that we didn’t think we’d find,” MBX Foundation President Gary Wayland said. “The district has indicated that they are making great progress.”
Photos: The MBX Foundation and district reconstruct Meadows field
The MBX Foundation, an organization within MBUSD that provides financial support for physical education and athletic programs at Costa, is funding the second phase, which consists of building a $2 million turf field on Meadows avenue. MBX’s plan is to replace all current fields and parking in the Meadows section of campus with the new turf field, in order to allow more space for sports teams and extracurriculars, Wayland said.
“Currently what has happened, especially in the spring, is that instead of practicing after school, teams such as lacrosse, rugby and the soccer team [may] have to practice at night, because there isn’t enough field space for all those sports,” Wayland said. “With the addition of the new field, we are hoping that will enable students and the teams to practice more after school instead of practicing [late] at night.”
Costa football, soccer, rugby, lacrosse, baseball, softball and marching band will be able to use the field once it is completed, along with youth groups such as AYSO and the youth flag football league. While the Meadows field is under construction, most Costa teams practice at Waller Stadium during times that do not interfere with already-scheduled activities.
“We also hope that some of those games that have been happening at night time at Waller Stadium will be able to take place right after school, so that all of the students and community can go to them,” Wayland said. “Providing that extra field will give a lot more flexibility in terms of practices and games.”
Link: Learn more of the reconstruction of Meadows field.
The Costa Baseball Boosters, an MBX stakeholder group, is funding the approximately $88,000 re-turfing of the varsity baseball field, which is located across from the Meadows field. The project was approved at the Nov. 2 board meeting, and began construction in early December. The re-turfing was estimated to be completed by Jan. 9, 2017, however, the re-turfing is postponed until the beginning of July due to inclement weather, Mira Costa Baseball Booster Club President Patti Ackerman said.
Link: See the future design of Meadows field.
“Instead of rushing it, we’ve just decided to hold off until next summer to re-turf,” varsity baseball player Chase Meidroth said. “We didn’t want to risk it not being finished because of the weather and us not being able to practice on it for a long time.”
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