Carlsbad High opens $1.65M track and turf field

Carlsbad High School athletes are competing on a new track and artificial turf field after a $1,655,631 summer renovation wrapped up in August.

The project, funded by the district's Measure HH bond, replaced the existing rubber track surface, the jumps area and the artificial turf field, the North County Daily Star reported. Construction started in June and finished in time for the first home football game of the fall season.

Carlsbad Unified School District (CUSD) also spent additional money to mark relay exchange zones in a separate color around the track, making them easier for runners, coaches and officials to spot during meets.

Superintendent Dr. Andrea Norman called the facility a resource for every student on campus, not just varsity athletes.

"Most importantly, this is a facility for all of our students," Norman said.

She added that every Carlsbad High student will benefit for years to come, whether in a PE class, at a track meet or cheering from the stands on a Friday night. Norman credited Carlsbad voters and the project team for delivering the work in a single summer so student-athletes could open the season at home.

Ruhnau Clarke Architects designed the renovation. FieldTurf served as the contractor.

The track and field project was one of several Measure HH improvements completed at Carlsbad High over the summer. The district's superintendent welcome-back message for the 2026–2027 school year noted that crews also refinished the wood floors in both gymnasiums and the dance room and painted the interior of the Legacy Gym.

Measure HH is a $265 million bond Carlsbad voters approved in November 2018 to modernize the district's 16 schools. An independent oversight committee reviews spending from the bond. The track project is the latest completed expenditure after the $30.2 million Aviara Oaks Middle School modernization, which opened for the start of this school year.

CUSD is also developing a long-range facilities master plan to guide future campus improvements. Details are available on the district's bond-measures page.