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Geoff Yantz smiled proudly as he surveyed the new field project at South Pasadena Middle School.
Making a major impact to the campus, the superintendent of the South Pasadena Unified School District likes what he sees.
“It’s beautiful,” said Yantz, pointing to the massive area that includes an artificial surface field with cork pellets for flag football and soccer games inside a circular walking path.
Specialized paints will be used to line the fields for particular games to “keep it flexible,” noted Yantz, who said the cork will help to keep the field cooler under the hot sun.
Below to the east is an expanded natural grass area. New sod was installed about a week ago. Adjacent to the field are new tennis and basketball courts.
Maintenance crews were at the site on Thursday finishing work on the project in anticipation its completion in the coming week. A group of kids taking part in soccer camp were busy giving the field a test run.
“It’s really coming along,” said Yantz. “It’s almost finished.
Other construction projects in the district are underway, including:
Improvements at SPHS Stadium
Ray Solari Stadium at South Pasadena High will be closed until the 4th of July when it will reopen for the annual fireworks show as part of the city’s Festival of Balloons, a full day of activities celebrating Independence Day.
The track and field will reopen to the community on July 5 for recreation use.
The outdoor lights shining down on the field are currently being replaced with LED lighting.
“It’s really going to significantly improve the brightness and safety, particularly on the south end where it has been pretty dark in the end zone during football games,” explained Yantz.
The school district is also finishing the LED light conversion, including the exterior and in the classrooms, at the high school. “By the end of the summer, it will be completely retrofitted to LED,” said Yantz.
Science and Math Building
Ten new classrooms are under construction on Diamond Avenue, across from the two gyms at South Pasadena High School. The project is anticipated to be completed in December and will open for the school’s second semester in early 2019.
Yantz said a group of portables behind the softball field will be removed once the Science and Math Building is completed.
