Spokane schools and parks break ground on first all‑weather, lighted high‑school fields

Spokane Public Schools and the city parks department held a ceremonial groundbreaking Thursday for the first two all‑weather, lighted high‑school athletic fields at Shadle Park High School and John R. Rogers High School, officials said.

Travis Schulhauser, chief operations officer for Spokane Public Schools, said the fields are "an investment in our students, families, and community," and will expand year‑round recreational access for youth and adults. "These projects represent far more than new athletic fields," Schulhauser said.

The work is part of the Together Spokane initiative and was made possible by bond funding voters approved, officials said. Bob Anderson, president of the Spokane park board, said the Together Spokane plan was approved by voters in November 2025 and will guide a multi‑site program of field upgrades across the city.

Nick Hamad, planning and development manager for Spokane Parks and Recreation, described the regional field improvement project as a large, fast‑moving effort. He said the program will renovate or construct at least 21 individual field projects, including three new fields at each Spokane Public Schools high school, six new fields at the Dwight Merkel Sports Complex and at least 10 lighted fields citywide. "That's 1,296,595 square feet worth—30 acres—of all‑weather field surfacing alone," Hamad said, and added the delivery schedule is aggressive: design, permitting and reconstruction of the 21+ fields is planned within approximately two years.

Hamad also named contractors and technical partners contributing to the design‑build effort, saying the team includes GARCO Construction and DCI Engineers as lead design‑builders, FieldTurf Inc. as the surfacing supplier, Musco Lighting for electrical and lighting, and other specialty firms handling earthwork and engineering. He noted that one field behind the ceremony site had moved 4,100 cubic yards of earth within a week of receiving a building permit.

Mayor Lisa Brown, who attended the event, praised the partnership between the district and the parks department. "In Spokane, we all belong, and we all cherish our children and youth," she said, thanking residents and leaders who supported the projects.

Officials said the fields are intended to serve students during school hours and the wider community evenings and weekends. Organizers invited students, coaches, elected officials and project partners to a ceremonial shovel turn and then to remain for photographs and media interviews.

Construction is underway at the Shadle Park site and officials said the broader Together Spokane program will transition additional high‑school fields to all‑weather, lighted surfaces over the coming years.