The City of Delta on Thursday (May 23) celebrated the groundbreaking for the new second artificial turf playing field at Mackie Park in North Delta.
The project, a partnership with the provincial government and Delta School District, represents another significant stride towards enhancing recreational facilities and meeting the growing demand for sports infrastructure in the community, the City of Delta said in a news release.
Replacing the gravel field behind Gray Elementary, the $5 million project includes a full-size soccer pitch and a high school-rules football field.
The project also includes LED field lighting, perimeter fencing and walkway, bleachers, a below-grade drainage system, and new field equipment.
Involving a land swap with the school district, the new field is scheduled to be ready for play by March 2025.
The project was funded by the BC Growing Communities Fund.
The city established a new reserve fund where the one-time grant of just over $16 million to Delta was directed for the second artificial turf field at Mackie Park as well as a major upgrade for the track at Delta Secondary (DSS) in Ladner.
Meanwhile, the city recently issued a request for proposals for the civil works associated with the redevelopment of the running track and natural turf soccer pitch at DSS.
The work will consist of the removal and disposal of the existing gravel-based running track, sports infield and associated underground drainage systems, as well as construction of the infrastructure to support the development of a new synthetic surfaced running track facility, natural turf soccer field, paved walkway, pedestrian lighting systems, site services and hard and soft landscaping.
A separate request for proposals is being issued to identify and secure a qualified contractor for the supply and installation of the synthetic track running surfacing.
The track asphalt base is to be installed and ready for the synthetic surface installation this summer, while the synthetic running surface is to be installed by the other contractor by mid-August.
The project will include, among other features, replacing the existing 400-metre, six-lane cinder surface running track and natural grass sports field with a 400-metre standard running track.
