On January 9, 2026, Encinal officially opened its new athletic complex with a ribbon-cutting ceremony which marked the completion of Alameda Unified School District’s first major campus investment project funded by Measure B. The ceremony celebrated the unveiling of the upgraded facility, which includes a synthetic turf field, all-weather track, a pole vault area and a drainage improvement designed for year-round use.
Later that day, the complex saw competition as Encinal soccer teams played the first official games on the constructed field.
The project, which was funded through the voter-approved Measure B bond that was passed in 2022, replaced the 70-year-old facility and represents the first of several projects to be completed with the funding from that measure.
The gathering, consisting of district officials, school board members, architects, construction leads, students, faculty, alumni, and other community members, recognized the years of construction and planning leading to the anticipated opening.
During the ceremony, Director of Construction Monty Patterson said the project represented the district’s commitment to replacing outlived facilities, describing the field as a fulfillment of a long-standing promise to the community.
The project stemmed from the district facilities master plan adopted in 2017 and was later funded through the voters in 2022 with Measure B.
“This is a project that this school has needed and deserved for a long time,” Superintendent Pasqual Scedary said, going on to credit students, coaches, alumni and community for advocating for the field upgrade.
Project Manager Pedro Mora described the field as the district’s first completed Measure B project and ensured it was a successful collaboration between the school and the construction partners.
QKA Architects, represented by John Dyczak, talked about how the field’s proximity to the waterfront required unique features like a protective wall and a drainage system to prevent flooding and allow consistent year-round usage, features that coaches and students alike appreciate.
School Board President Ryan Lalonde gave insight to the projects to follow the field as Measure B funds will go to additional projects planned including a new gymnasium at Encinal, upgrades to Wood Middle School and Otis Elementary, as well as the new swim center at Alameda High School.
Encinal Men’s Varsity soccer fell 2-1 to Piedmont, marking the first official game on the new field. Junior Noah Bositis scored Encinal’s lone goal, becoming the first Jet to find the net on the upgraded surface.
“It feels good to score on the new field,” Bositis said. “We were already down 2-0, so it was hard to come back but it felt good to score…I’m excited to play on the new field, it’s going to be a lot of fun.”
As the school community celebrates the opening of the new athletic field, district officials say that construction at Encinal is yet to be finished. Plans for a new gymnasium and weight room are underway with construction expected to begin in 2026.
For student-athletes and the broader community, the new complex is the start of a new era for Encinal Sports, one defined by modern facilities and a renewed school spirit.
