As Santa Barbara City College remains closed to stop the spread of COVID-19, much remains up in the air about the status of ongoing construction projects, including the replacement of artificial turf at La Playa Stadium.

“Within the past few days we have gotten the update that everything is moving forward as planned,” said City College Athletic Director Rocco Constantino.

Construction for the $2 million project is set to begin on May 11 of this year with a strict deadline to finish on August 15 before the fall semester begins. 

Constantino said the date was chosen based on an anticipated large increase in usage by physical education classes, fall sports teams and the public. 

The turf was last replaced in 2011.

“Anyone who looks at the field can tell it needs to be replaced,” said City College football coach Craig Moropoulos. 

Beyond the normal maintenance of replacing the turf, a new infill will also be added to keep the field cooler on hot days, and the drainage system for the field will be replaced. 

“A lot of the cost is going toward the new drainage system, it’s not just ripping the carpet up and putting a new one down, we actually have to replace the entire drainage system,” Constantino said. 

It is likely that the stadium will remain closed up until the renovation begins, but the college has not made any announcement regarding it yet. 

“[City College] is going to do what state and local governments say to do, for as long as they say to do it,” Moropoulos said.