Saddleback High School opens its on-campus football stadium next month. It will be the fourth Santa Ana high school to get an on-campus stadium, all of which have artificial turf fields that provide an excellent playing surface regardless of whatever the weather brings.
High school football coaches in Anaheim are wondering, “What about us?”
The Anaheim Union High School District’s eight high schools – Anaheim, Cypress, Katella, Kennedy, Loara, Magnolia, Savanna and Western – play their home games at Glover Stadium on the La Palma Park property and at Handel Stadium on the Western campus. Those stadiums have natural turf fields. Those fields are not in great condition now and they will be in poor shape by mid-October due to all of the use.
After asking around this week, it looks like improvements could be happening soon, at least at Handel Stadium.
But it’s going to take a lot of work, which means a lot of time and plenty of money.
The plan is for an all-weather track to encircle a football field with artificial turf. To do that, the north stands on the visitors’ side might have to be moved further north, where there is little room to do so. The stands on the home side, the south side, might have to be demolished and replaced.
Then there are restrooms and concession facilities to configure. Much would have to meet modern codes and construction standards, too.
Money for such a project might have to come from a bond entry on an upcoming election ballot. School-related bonds often are approved by voters, but not always.
Improvements are underway or are soon to begin at some Anaheim district athletic facilities. Anaheim High is getting artificial turf and lights for its athletics areas, as is Cypress. Football fields at both will have stands that will suffice for lacrosse, soccer, track and other sports including lower-level football games.
Maybe that is a trend that will extend to Glover and Handel stadiums. The Anaheim district’s high school…
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