School district to pay additional $58,971 for Corona del Mar sports field designs

The Newport-Mesa Unified School District will pay an Irvine-based architect an additional $58,971 to develop new schematic designs for the Corona del Mar Middle and High school sports field project.

The school board Tuesday approved the agreement with LPA Inc. to create designs reflecting the $11-million project’s final environmental impact report and proposed Option B, which was approved at an Oct. 24 board meeting.

The option includes two synthetic turf fields, one of which would include a rubber track. Both would have lighting. Seating capacity would be 664 in the bleachers at the main field and 200 at the second field.

The architect provided preliminary designs for one field as part of an agreement entered in 2015, said Tim Holcomb, district assistant superintendent and chief operating officer. The additional cost is to redo the schematic designs, reflecting the two-field option.

District spokeswoman Annette Franco said the district to date has spent $80,645 on design services.

The original project consisted of a new artificial turf field, a synthetic track, lighting, new bleachers with a capacity of 1,000 spectators and a new building to house ticketing, concessions and new restrooms.

The district held community meetings for more than a year to collect input.

CdM’s current field hosts soccer, lacrosse, football and track and field.

Varsity events would continue to be held at Newport Harbor High School’s Davidson Field because they attract larger crowds, the district said.

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