Mater Dei Athletic Track & Field

The Mater Dei track and turf field improvements were years in the making, supported by fundraisers and community involvement to bring the project to life. A major challenge was the site’s tight layout and elevation constraints, with buildings located inside and outside the track and a street directly adjacent to the sports complex entrance. The original track had the home bleachers and concession stand inside the track, creating larger curve radii. The home team locker room and public restrooms, located just outside the track, were to remain in place.

Another key challenge was drainage. The athletic field sits at the upper limits of the city’s already overloaded drainage system. To address this, the new turf field was designed with an underground aggregate stormwater basin and a small detention basin, maximizing the limited space available within the congested campus.

The project replaced the old grass field with a new synthetic turf field, upgraded the cinder track to a paved surface, and added a handicap-accessible pedestrian entrance. The turf has significantly benefited athletics, band, and PE programs by providing a surface ready for use shortly after rain. It has also allowed Mater Dei to host games for other schools when their fields were unplayable, helping teams avoid cancellations and rescheduling.