Multi-use Fields Slated for Jefferson, Spencer Butte

The Eugene School Board voted at its Oct. 17 meeting to place multi-use athletic fields at Spencer Butte Middle School, and the Arts and Technology Academy at Jefferson.

Roosevelt Middle School was another siting possibility for the artificial field project, which is a partnership with the City of Eugene. The fields will be funded through previous capital bonds from the city and district, and will be available for broad, year-round community use, as well as by schools.

Board members and district and city staff believed the siting of the fields provides the best spread of facilities across our community, given the year-round fields already at the four high schools (North Eugene, Sheldon, Churchill and South Eugene) and at two other middle schools north of the Willamette River (Madison and Cal Young). Jefferson gives a central, south-of-the-river option, while Spencer Butte serves Eugene's "deep south."

The district will get further estimates and analysis on the possible exact locations of the fields at the Jefferson and Spencer Butte sites. Construction could begin in the spring, and the goal would be to open the fields for use in fall 2008.