Annual Battle of the Bay Between Monterey High and Seaside High to Showcase New Seaside High School Track and Field Ribbon Cutting Prior to Battle of the Bay Game
For Immediate Release
August 30, 2021
Annual Battle of the Bay Between Monterey High and Seaside High to
Showcase New Seaside High School Track and Field
Ribbon Cutting Prior to Battle of the Bay Game
Seaside, CA - The Monterey Peninsula Unified School District and Seaside High School will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday, September 3, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. on the new track and field at Seaside High School located at 2200 Noche Buena in Seaside, CA.
The ribbon cutting will take place just prior to the annual Battle of the Bay varsity football game between cross town rivals Monterey High School and Seaside High School. Board of Education members, Superintendent PK Diffenbaugh, Principal Aaron Sanders, and Seaside High student athletes and staff will be present for the ribbon cutting ceremony.
“We are grateful to voters for believing in the vision,” said PK Diffenbaugh, Superintendent, Monterey Peninsula Unified School District. “The community has waited patiently for enhancements and upgrades, and in subsequent years we have seen the addition of new state-of-the art classrooms and a Library/MakerSpace. This track and field completes much of the work from local school bond measures.”
“This is an exciting time for our student athletes,” said Aaron Sanders, Principal, Seaside High School. “We know that teaching and learning extends beyond the classroom walls, and this new track and field is an extension of the classroom. It’s an opportunity for our students to learn sportsmanship and being part of a team.”
The project began in March 2020 and was completed just shy of a year in February 2021. Student track and field athletes, along with football players, were the first to participate in sports conditioning in February 2021, and track and field competitions were held last spring. This Friday, September 3 marks the first time a football game will be played on the field.
Funded through Measure I (a $213 million dollar facilities bond) and approved by voters in June 2018, the state-of-the-art track and field project cost $8 million dollars, and includes:
- Installation of a new synthetic turf and track
- Scoreboard and lights (lights climb 100-feet from both sides of the field)
- Public address system
- SHS Spartan Mural
The turf is striped for both football and soccer activities. The track, shot put, discus cage, long/triple jump runway and sand pit, pole vault and shot put circle received vibrantly colored striping.
Monterey Peninsula Engineering was the contractor, Verde Designs Architect was the architecture, and Beynon Sports installed the field. This project received an Award of Merit of the Year for environmental projects greater than $5 million from the American Public Works Association, Monterey Bay Chapter in 2021.
“I never thought I’d see what I’m seeing today,” said Coach Seaside High School Football Coach Al Avila. “I’m still pinching myself. Even when I saw the blueprints, I didn’t hold my breath. Our superintendent made the difference. He had a vision.”
# # #