College to Boost Public Use of Field

By Lookout Staff

January 11 -- The Santa Monica College Board is expected to take the first step Monday night in opening up Corsair Field to community soccer teams by launching a $1 million renovation of its historic athletic field.

The renovation -- which includes slightly reconfiguring the football field and installing artificial turf -- would be the first project bankrolled by Measure S, a $135 million college bond to build facilities and purchase park land. The measure was approved by voters last November.

“Santa Monica College is demonstrating its commitment, as stated in Measure S, to providing the community with playing fields, which are in such short supply,” said SMC Athletic Director Rhonda Hyatt.

“At the same time, our football and women’s soccer teams will have upgraded facilities, and the college will no longer have to constantly repair damage to the grass surface,” Hyatt said.

The conversion to artificial surface would not only reduce “down time” for maintenance, but allow SMC greater flexibility in course offerings and scheduling, college officials said.

On Monday night, the board is expected to approve a contract of up to $35,000 with Caldwell Architects to design and plan the upgrades, college officials said.

The field, which would be open at least 30 hours a week for community use, will be designed to meet NCAA standards for intercollegiate soccer play, officials said.

SMC plans to begin the renovation in May and complete it by the beginning of the fall semester in late August, said Bruce Smith, the spokesman for the college.

The track -- which is open both to students and the community -- will continue to be open during most of the renovation, he said.

Corsair Field is currently used by both the college and the community for football and is the home field for SMC, as well as Santa Monica High School and St. Monica’s High School.

However, the field is currently not used to its full potential, particularly in the spring, officials said. By renovating it and reconfiguring it for both sports, the field will get greater use in a community that faces an acute shortage of playing fields.