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SRHS FIELD DUE FOR BIG MAKEOVER
DATE: Friday, July 25, 2003 BYLINE: By RICH RUPPRECHT Over the next five months, Santa Rosa High's Ernie Nevers Field is expected to be transformed into one of the city's most modern and well-used sporting facilities. The Santa Rosa Board of Education Wednesday night approved a $3 million Nevers Field upgrade. As part of $10 million in construction projects around the city, the new Nevers Field will include a synthetic surface, an eight-lane all-weather track, new bleachers for up to 2,300 spectators, a new snack bar, restrooms and a scorer's booth. The synthetic turf, similar to the surface at Lucchesi Field in Petaluma, was considered the biggest coup. It will not only allow Panther football and soccer to be played at Nevers Field, but should be able to handle the load of youth soccer and youth football at a time when there's generally considered to be a lack of athletic facilities in Santa Rosa. Santa Rosa High boys athletic director Pat Kennedy said the facility will go from one with limited use to one that he envisions could play host to North Coast Section championship football and soccer games and track meets. ``It will be a state of the art facility,'' said Kennedy, who added that the project has been in the works for over two years. While some have questioned money spent on athletics during an economic crisis in education, $2.7 million of the money comes from state reinbursements for facility projects. Construction will begin on Aug. 30 and could be finished by Dec. 30 without delays because of poor weather. Kennedy is just hoping that construction is finished by February, in time for the track season. While Santa Rosa High currently has a good soccer field, it has no backup fields for practice. That means four (men's and women's varsity and junior varsity) teams regularly need the field at the same time for practice and games. Kennedy also said the long-range plan is for lights to be installed at Nevers Field so that football games, soccer matches and track meets can be held at night. Night events traditionally generate larger crowds. Kennedy estimated the cost of lights at about $150,000. That money must be raised by the Santa Rosa boosters club and Santa Rosa High Foundation. Wiring for the lights will be put in during the current construction NCS high school football and soccer playoff events are usually held at night. The soccer field on Nevers Field will measure 70 yards by 115 yards. While construction is going on this fall, the Santa Rosa High football team will play its five home games at Santa Rosa Junior College (three day games) and Elsie Allen (two night games). Kennedy said the proposal before the board had the option of grass or synthetic surface on the football field. While synthetic turf was approximately $150,000 more, it was felt that synthetic turf would be more cost efficient in the long run, allowing more games to be played on the field in rainy weather. Area track clubs could also use the facility and the Panther track team could host big meets and not have to move next door to SRJC. ``We have a pretty good dirt track, but this will be really nice,'' said Santa Rosa track coach Doug Courtemarche. All-weather approaches for the long jump, high jump and pole vault will also be installed. The maker of the synthetic surface, SRI, has had its synthetic field installed at Marin Academy for soccer and Marin Catholic for baseball. SRI is also the surface used at the Seattle Seahawks' new stadium and in an indoor multi-use facility at the University of Texas. Nevers Field is expected to generate revenue by renting it on an hourly basis to youth soccer and football teams. Lucchesi Park, which has lights, last year hosted the California Youth Soccer Association Cal-North State Cup finals for four younger age groups because of the synthetic surface. The Santa Rosa High main gym is also currently undergoing refurbishing, including the lobby and locker rooms and the addition of a weight room, electronic bleachers, motorized backboards and new scoreboards.