On September 20, during a varsity football game against Sequoia High School, Newark Memorial High School announced the groundbreaking for their new turf field starting September 23. This upgrade will replace a track and turf that had been worn down for over 25 years, modernizing the area for better athletic use.
The project design process started in the spring of 2023 after the Newark Unified School District Board approved it. There was a total of $6 million dollars allocated, with the project running within the budget constraints. “There was a huge need for a renovation, and it was identified by our community, parents, students and staff members, as the number one need on campus,” Newark Memorial Athletic Director Rachel Kahoalii said.
Beyond benefiting each of the sports that frequently utilize the turf and track as well as other school’s sports teams coming in to play in league games, the renovations will also benefit the physical education classes that Newark Memorial students are required to take. “It is going to be a huge boost of pride in our campus and in our community, so we’ll have the opportunity to really have facilities that match just the goodness of people that we have here on our campus,” Kahoalii said.
As for the renovations themselves, they serve to create a safer environment for athletes utilizing modernized technologies. “There’s going to be a new turf field, an artificial turf field, that will be going in the center, and then also with some of the exterior elements of track and field,” said Interim Superintendent Tracy Vackar. The artificial grass replacing the original grass will be able to combat issues such as frequent rains, inconvenient maintenance processes and the need for an irrigation system. There are environmental benefits as well, in addition to the saved water during seasons of drought.
Moreover, the track will be coated with a material that prevents the harmful effects of UV light. According to www.johnsonandsonspaving.com and hongjusilicone.com, if an uncoated track has frequent exposure to UV light, it could speed up the aging process of synthetic rubber by breaking down the molecular structure through photochemical reactions and degrade asphalt by wearing down the binding oil in the synthetic material, causing cracks.
In addition to the renovations, there is still further hope at improving the infrastructure for other sports besides those who will benefit from this upgrade. “We are in desperate need of upgrading our tennis courts and swimming pool facilities and our blacktop, which are classrooms that are in desperate need of updating. They have been neglected for about 25 to 30 years, and so that would be ideally at the top of our list,” shared Kahoalii. By classrooms, Kahoalii refers to the numerous physical education classes that happen every school day.
Through this project, it is evident that Newark Memorial High School holds their students as their top priority. “[We want to] make sure that the students enjoy a cutting-edge field, something to be proud of, and be part of history,” expressed Newark Memorial Principal Michael Murphy. With this successful project underway and many more potential projects to come, the future of Newark Memorial Athletics looks bright.
