San Juan High School to receive stadium upgrades, new tennis courts

By Sara Beth Williams–
San Juan High School will soon have its stadium remodeled, according to an update from the district.

San Juan Unified School District confirmed last week that a groundbreaking ceremony on a modernization project for the high school’s McArthur Field is tentatively planned for May 20. The project is being funded by the previous Measure P, which was passed in 2016, the district said.

San Juan Unified School District Director of Communication Raj Rai said planning began in 2022, and the construction project was recently approved at the February SJUSD Board of Education meeting. Stadium modernization will include a new synthetic track and field, two new tennis courts, a ticket booth, and a concession and restroom building.

McArthur Field hasn’t had any updates in 17 years, according to the district. The track and field was constructed over 75 years ago back in 1949, a press box with bleachers was added in 1950, and lights were added in 1984, Rai said.

ADA improvements were the last major updates made to the stadium in 2008, Rai said, which included an ADA-compliant path of travel, parking stalls, bleacher seats, and a concession serving window.

“San Juan Unified and San Juan High are very excited about this new project,” Rai said, adding that stadium upgrades have been shown to improve campus culture and establish a “strong sense of identity” for the school and students. Rai said a facilities page will be added to the district’s website soon, which will provide updates and progress on the project.

With the recent passage of a $950 million facilities bond measure in 2024, the district also has other updates planned for San Juan High, including upgrades to the high school’s science classrooms to “support 21st-century learning.”

Plans for the modernization and improvement of San Juan High’s stadium come on the heels of the construction of a new stadium for Mesa Verde High School, which had not had a stadium since its inception in the 1970s. The new stadium was completed in the fall of 2023.