WATSONVILLE—After years of playing on an ankle-twisting field pockmarked with scores of gopher holes, the students of E.A. Hall Middle School will soon have a new athletic field.
The synthetic turf field—yet to be given an official name—will be ready for use when students return from winter break, says Principal David Harrah. A ribbon-cutting ceremony has tentatively been scheduled for Jan. 13.
“I am very excited about it,” he said. “This field has been a high priority at our school for quite some time. I believe our students and community deserve to have a high-quality sports field.”
The $1.87 million project represents the school’s final allocation of funds from Measure L, a $150 million bond passed by voters in 2012 to fund construction and improvement projects throughout Pajaro Valley Unified School District, said Chief Business Officer Clint Rucker.
That expenditure was approved in August 2019, when numerous people overwhelmingly voted for it during a community meeting, choosing that option over upgrading and painting 16 aging classrooms.
In addition to providing an athletic field for the school, it will also be available to sports leagues through a joint-use agreement between PVUSD and the city of Watsonville, Rucker said. Landmark and Ann Soldo elementary schools have similar agreements, all of which provide revenue to help fund the fields.
The new field includes room for a running track, if money becomes available to build it, Rucker said.
