CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) – A new state-of-the-art stadium is going to be built at Mesa Verde High School, something students have never had in the school’s nearly 50-year history.

The new stadium is Mesa Verde’s “signature project” which each school in the San Juan Unified School District is allotted. As part of Measure N, each school in the district gets to choose something to be upgraded using bond fundings of approximately $4 million. The plan for a new stadium was voted for on Oct. 29, 2014, over a new cafeteria.

According to the district website, the project will include five components. First, construction of a brand-new sports stadium including a synthetic track and field. Second, building new bleachers, press box and a concessions and restroom building. Third, adding LED sports lighting. Fourth, renovating the existing parking lots and tennis courts. Fifth and finally, conducting other much-needed exterior site improvements.

Construction for the renovated stadium is expected to begin this spring and will be completed approximately by fall of next year, according to SJUSD Director of Facilities Nicholas Arps. At a recent community meeting held on Thursday, April 7, citizens of Citrus Heights discussed the stadium plans that have been in place since 2014.

Members of the community expressed concerns to representatives from Verde Design, a landscape architecture and civil engineering firm, about lighting, noise and increased traffic that the stadium would create. Many residents near the stadium fear that the new project could affect the value of their once quiet homes.

Representatives from the SJUSD have made an effort to minimize sound levels by analyzing decibels. Additionally, the reps have begun strategizing how to cut down on traffic in residential areas and reduce the glare stemming from the lighting of stadiums by implementing the newest lighting technology.

When the SJUSD and Verde Design were drafting plans for the project, one of many proposals included building the stadium away from the homes by the school. However, the allotted funds did not allow for such a plan to come to fruition, as having to reconstruct the locations of the existing fields was out of the budget.

For years, the Mavericks have had to play all five home games at other sites, due to not having an on-site stadium to play in. Starting in 2023, Mesa Verde will officially be ready to play at home under the lights.