Shadow Ridge High School is in the middle of a major facilities upgrade as construction crews continue work on new turf and drought-tolerant landscaping for the school’s athletic fields. The project officially began on June 2, 2025, and has already reached 50 percent completion.
The work is being completed in stages, with two official deadlines. The substantial completion date is scheduled for December 19, 2025. By that point, the fields will appear finished to the casual observer, with turf in place, landscaping installed, and irrigation systems operational. The final completion date is February 26, 2026. The extra two months between December and February allow the district and contractors to carefully inspect the work. During this period, they will verify field dimensions, confirm that irrigation systems are functioning properly, check turf line markings, and complete larger structural updates such as replacing poles at the baseball backstop. This timeline provides a buffer to address any issues that may arise and ensures the fields are ready for the spring baseball and softball seasons.
Alex Loya, junior, states, “I think it’s really cool how much the schools are changing.”
The project is part of a district-wide initiative focused on water conservation and sustainability. By installing drought-tolerant landscaping and synthetic turf, the district is reducing overall water usage while maintaining safe and functional athletic facilities. These upgrades also create consistency across schools in the district, ensuring all campuses benefit from the same standard of design and quality.
Liam Cablao, junior, adds, “I think the school system can put whatever funding they’re giving towards other things at school.”
Assistant Principal, Karissa Guthrie, has seen firsthand how these changes will benefit students. She explained that the new turf will make the fields more versatile and allow for multiple sports to use the same spaces throughout the year. The soccer field, for example, will feature lines for both flag football and traditional football. This design increases field availability for practices and games, reducing scheduling conflicts and giving athletes more opportunities to train.
Beyond functionality, the upgrades will also improve the appearance of the campus. Shadow Ridge is more than twenty years old, and the landscaping and turf improvements will help modernize the school grounds. Guthrie described the transformation as something that will bring energy and pride to the community.
“It’s going to make our school look really nice,” she said. “Once all of the landscaping and turf are complete, it’s going to put an exclamation mark on our campus.”
With completion expected in early 2026, the project is on track to deliver lasting benefits in sustainability, usability, and school pride. Coaches, athletes, and students alike are anticipating a new era for Shadow Ridge athletics.
