SPOKANE, Wash. — Student athletes at Shadle Park High School will take the field this fall on a brand-new all-weather turf surface, marking the beginning of Phase One projects funded by the taxpayer-approved Together Spokane initiative.
A groundbreaking ceremony celebrated the start of the Shadle Park turf field renovation, one of several infrastructure improvements rolling out across Spokane schools and community facilities over the coming months. The $440 million combined bonds and levies package prioritizes school and community improvements, with many Phase One projects focusing on community safety and student access to quality facilities.
“We want kids active doing things that are productive and that takes both programing and infrastructure,” said Dr. Adam Swinyard, Spokane Public Schools Superintendent.
The Shadle Park project includes not only the new turf field but also upgraded lighting that will extend practice and game hours for student athletes. Rogers High School will receive the same improvements, becoming among the first schools to benefit from these Phase One enhancements.
The lighting upgrades alone represent a significant investment in student opportunity. According to Nicholas Hamad, park planning and development manager, new all-weather surfacing and lights typically increase usable field time by 20 to 25 percent.
“It’s a significant increase, and it’s much less expensive than building an entire new complex,” Hamad said.
For Shadle Park rising junior Tao Catlin, the improvements mean more than just better playing conditions.
“There were a couple potholes and, like, the field and stuff like that, but I’ve had a lot of good memories on it,” Catlin said. “Home games like homecoming and stuff like that will be a lot more fun here at Shadle. I really want to have that home game environment.”
Project managers expect the Shadle Park field to be ready for athletes by mid-August, in time for the start of the fall season.
Adams Elementary School was the first Phase One project to break ground, beginning its rebuilding in May. The school, which has served the community for more than 100 years, required substantial renovations and is set to welcome students for the 2027-2028 school year.
Another Phase One project, the brand-new Meadowglen Park in the Indian Trail neighborhood, will remain under construction until 2027.
After Phase One completion, Together Spokane will continue operating on an every-other-year investment cycle through 2029, ensuring ongoing improvements to schools and community facilities across the region.
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