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Parents press Newport-Mesa USD to fix worn practice fields, some urge turf at Newport Harbor
Summary
Parents and community members urged the Newport‑Mesa Unified School District board to address safety problems on worn grass practice fields, highlighting repeated slips, poor drainage and maintenance burdens on booster groups and asking the district to consider long‑term solutions including turf.
Parents and community members told the Newport‑Mesa Unified School District board on Aug. 21 that worn, uneven grass fields at several high schools are creating safety hazards and limiting practice time.
"It's time to take a proactive step towards ensuring that our athletes can compete in an environment that supports their growth, performance, and safety," said Yoda Takamori, a parent and student‑athlete parent speaking about Newport Harbor's practice field. Multiple speakers described uneven turf, poor drainage and frequent mud that they said causes injuries and cancels practices.
Why it matters: Speakers said field conditions affect athlete safety, program participation and equity between schools. Several parents noted that booster groups currently fund much of field conditioning and asked for clearer district plans and vendor coordination so booster funds can support coaching and equipment rather than routine maintenance.
Details: Shani Chisholm, a parent of a Newport Harbor football player, told trustees she “trust[s] that the coaches know better than I how to keep their players safe” and that the grass field is a hazard. Linay Smith described her son "hyperextended his leg" during practice after slipping on the practice field. Barbara Kesnick and other parents said turf would provide consistent playing surfaces, reduced cancellations and lower long‑term upkeep.
District response: Superintendent Wesley Smith said staff regularly survey fields — including compaction studies — and that district teams believe fields meet safety standards but acknowledged improvements are possible. He asked parents to work through site principals and Jeff Trader's facilities team for follow‑up inspections and promised staff would visit fields and report back.
What comes next: Trustees did not take immediate action at the meeting. Parents were encouraged to submit specific site requests through principals and to coordinate with district facilities staff so district teams can evaluate drainage, compaction and maintenance plans.
Ending: Several speakers asked the board to prioritize students' safety in upcoming facilities planning and budget conversations.
