School Board Views Plans for Field Upgrades

The process of revitalizing two of the school district's prime athletic properties inched forward last night as trustees reviewed architects' plans to give San Leandro High School and Burrell Field dramatic face lifts.

The projects are being funded using proceeds from the , approved by voters last November.

Michael Murphy, director of bond projects for San Leandro Unified School District, said officials are hoping to break ground on the two projects in the spring of 2012 and anticipate they will take 12 to 14 months to complete, barring unforeseen circumstances.

Trustees unanimously approved plans that will give Burrell Field a dual identity as the Pacific Sports Complex while also revamping the football and baseball fields, adding new bleachers and creating a new entryway with a dramatic archway.

Co-christening the site as the Pacific Sports Complex is meant to assuage lingering resentments in the west side of San Leandro over the closure in the early 1980s of Pacific High School, which is now the site of the Marina Square Shopping Center.

Trustees delayed any move to finalize plans to dramatically rework the pools and fields at San Leandro High School until after they hear feedback from a community forum scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 14, at the school cafeteria.