By Sara Beth Williams–
San Juan High School is gearing up for transformation with construction set to begin on a long-awaited stadium modernization project. A groundbreaking ceremony will be held on May 20 at 9 a.m. to officially kick off the effort.
New side-by-side aerial images shared by the district in a May 6 district newsletter show the current condition of the stadium, with a dirt track surrounding a grass field, and an artist rendering of the upgraded facility, complete with a new track and field and painted football field.
Modernization and demolition have already begun, according to the project’s timeline on the district’s website. Following the groundbreaking ceremony at the end of May, construction is expected to take a little over a year.
The project will focus on facility upgrades to the current McArthur Field, including the new synthetic track and field, which offers enhanced training and competition conditions year-round; two new tennis courts; and a newly constructed ticket booth, concession area, and restroom building. The updated stadium is expected to become a central gathering space for school pride, community events, and expanded athletic programming, the district said in its monthly newsletter.
The modernization project is being funded by the previous Measure P, which was passed by the community in 2016, according to the district.
Related: Measure P passed. What will it mean for Citrus Heights schools? – Citrus Heights Sentinel
San Juan Unified School District Director of Communication Raj Rai said planning for modernization began in 2022, and the construction project was recently approved at the February Board of Education meeting.
The original track and field were constructed over 75 years ago, back in 1949. Press box with bleachers were 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 added, which included an ADA-compliant path of travel, parking stalls, bleacher seats, and a concession serving window.
With the passage of another facilities bond measure in November 2024, the district also has other updates planned for the local high school, including upgrades to San Juan 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 major construction of a new stadium for Mesa Verde High School, which did not have a stadium since its inception in the 1970s. The new stadium was completed in the fall of 2023.
The stadium’s groundbreaking will begin at 9 a.m. at McArthur Field. San Juan High School is located at 7551 Greenback Ln.
