School board to weigh $15,000 field study

Newport-Mesa’s school board Tuesday will consider accepting $15,000 to study the feasibility of a proposed new sports facility at Costa Mesa High School.

Costa Mesa’s City Council voted last week to provide cash that would start the design process for a lighted, all-weather track and field.

The city has proposed a preliminary concept and wants public access to the facility during non-school hours, justifying what could be a $3 million to $4 million final cost, city officials say.

Mesa parents and boosters have long asked for a replacement to facilities they say are run down and put athletes in danger.

If the school board accepts the $15,000, it will also approve parameters of the study that includes costs, design possibilities, environmental concerns and any impact on the educational program at Mesa.

“The planning conducted by the city thus far, while it has included some discussions with site-based personnel at the high school, has not had the opportunity to include broader consideration of the district’s needs and requirements for such a facility,” according to a school board staff report.

In December, the board unanimously approved a similar process for a proposed stadium at Corona del Mar High School.

Private donors provided $15,000 for the feasibility study while they raise money for their multimillion-dollar project.

There isn’t yet funding in place for all the final costs of Mesa’s project, according to Costa Mesa City CEO Tom Hatch, but council members have already voted to allocate $300,000 for the design process.

jeremiah.dobruck2@latimes.com

Twitter: @jeremiahdobruck